Entering into Islam

Live, Learn & Inspire

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Sept / Oct 2015 / Issue 15

Entering
into Islam

Muharram 1437

The Mosque in
the 21st Century

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programming from an Islamic perspective.

Broadcast in French, France Islam aims to appeal to both Muslims and
non-Muslims; ultimately conveying Islam in its true form to everyone.

www.franceislam.tv

[email protected]

Management Editorial Team

Chairman: Mohamed Ali Harrath Managing Editor: Anjuma Choudhury
The Dawah Project Manager: Azma Gaffar Content and Copy Editor: Aseel Saif
Assistant Editor: Anum Babar
Religious Content Editor: Raiyyan Clemenston
Creative and Visual Director: Muhammad Abdulmateen
Writers: Aseel Saif, Anum Babar, Elena Nikolovaa, Hafsa Waseela, Maryam
Issadeen, Nasrine Abdirachid, Shahina Khatun and Yeota Imam
Contributors: Sami Ali, Ayesha Ashiq, Samina Kiyani and Adama Munu
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CONTENTS

The Rope of Allah: 06
Part 2

The Dawah Project

Reflection: 14

Entering into Islam

By Yeota Imam

14

20 28

16 The Role of the Mosques 28 In Conversation
By Nasrine Abdirachid
with Tommy Evans
20 The Youth Under the
Shade of Allah By Aseel Saif
By Maryam Issadeen
32 The Virtues of

Muharram

By Anum Babar

Women’s AM 34
Corner

By Shahina Khatun

42 42 A Traveller’s Guide:

Discover Majestic

Oman

By Elena Nikolova

59 Food Bites: Omani Fish Curry
and Halwa
By Elena Nikolova

52 59

52 BODY MIND SOUL: 70 Recommended Reading

Swimming: A 74 Islam Channel
Sunnah Sport
Programmes
By Hafsa Waseela
Programmes Showing in
October and November 2015

77 Get Involved

Jobs and Volunteering Opportunities

Editorial

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Compassionate.

The Rope of Allah: Part 2

Assalamu Alaikum his victory against the tyrant Firaun (Phar-
Dear Readers, aoh); we learn that during difficult times we
‘The Rope of Allah: Part 2’ articulates the should hold onto the rope through unified
concerns of a modern Muslim such as patience, prayer and determination; unde-
what the 21st century mosque entails, the niably with Allah’s Help and Mercy that we
journey to converting to Islam, youth can succeed. We must never forget that.
development and cohesion of the ‘Ummah’ Our sisters and some brothers have always
(community of Muslims). Therefore, there given us positive feedback on how much
are three groups of people which we ex- they enjoy watching Islam Channel’s flag-
plore; the Muslim community leaders, Mus- ship programme ‘Women’s AM’ and thus,
lim converts and Muslim youths. We dis- we have a new segment in Ilma, ‘Women’s
cover that Muslims in the West, particularly AM Corner’ where you will be presented
in Britain have made positive contributions with a further understanding into Women’s
in these three areas, but a lot more can be AM for its uniqueness, relevance and im-
done in terms of organisation and struc- portance. The new feature will give you an
ture. insight in behind the scenes behind the
The dynamic British Muslim artist Tommy scenes commentary, opinions, quotes of
Evans, further supports some of the no- special guests on the show and of course
tions discussed in this issue and gives the presenters themselves!
us an insight into how the arts helped him Certainly, you will see more collaboration
voice his thoughts and ideas. between Ilma Magazine and Islam Chan-
The blessed month of Muharram 1437 is nel. Hence, all the more reason for you to
very near and it is the beginning of the Is- carry on reading Ilma and continue watch-
lamic New Year, a month involving signifi- ing Islam Channel!
cant events such as prophetic struggles, Please send your comments and sugges-
successful prophetic missions and martyr- tions to [email protected]
dom. We, the Muslims of all sects should We love to hear from you!
unite irrespective of what Muharram means Jazakumullahu Khairan
to us as this is truly a special month. The The Dawah Project Team
Day of Ashura relays the story of Prophet
Musa or Moses (peace be upon him) and

06 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 07

THE
DAWAH
PROJECT

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Will you help us
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We live in a world that is diverse and globalised. As many
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The
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Who are we?
We live in a world that is diverse, dynamic and globalised. Whilst technology develops,
The Dawah Project embraces these innovations, spreading Dawah at an international
scale. We utilise Television, Radio and Digital Media promoting a better understanding
of Islam and the Muslim way of life. It is our mission to provide comprehensive
education about Islam for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Islam Channel - Religious watched online via: www.islamchannel.tv and
Programming www.thedawahproject.com

We live in a world that is diverse, dynamic and Radio Campaign in Africa and Asia
globalised. Whilst technology develops, it is vital
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most powerful form of mass communication. expensive or illiteracy rates are high, radio
continues to play an important role in sharing
Islam Channel is an English speaking channel, information. Radio broadcasts can provide real-
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new programmes throughout the year. Viewers access to the internet is blocked and phone
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and Footsteps of Ibraheem are all sponsored by necessity for battery-operated and hand-cranked
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Sky 806, Freeview 244 via VisionTV and can be

10 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

The Radio Campaign was launched in 2011 and Ilma Magazine
we are currently working in Africa where 60 percent
of the population is Muslim and over 80 percent We are witnessing a digital revolution! More
of Africans are tuning in every day listening to people have their own computer, laptop, iPad
their local radio station, making it a crucial source and smart phones. The digital industry is
of information. Currently, The Dawah Project always developing. We took advantage of this
is working to set up analogue radio stations in phenomenon by producing an e-magazine called
Tunisia, Nigeria, Gambia, Uganda, Sierra Leone Ilma, which is released on a bi-monthly basis and
and Rwanda. We want to educate the diverse is available on Issuu - the fastest growing digital
African community about Islam. publishing platform in the world. Visit www.issuu.
com /dawahprjct
The International Dawah Centre Ilma Magazine provides reflective writings on
various aspects of life attracting a diverse range
The International Dawah Centre campaign was of readers all over the world.
introduced in April 2012. Our aim is to provide a
centre for everyone to have a better understanding www.thedawahproject.com
of Islam resulting in a more knowledgeable and
harmonious international community.

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 11

Update: The International
Dawah Centre Campaign

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

Dear Patrons,
In April 2012, The Dawah Project launched The International Dawah Centre Campaign. The purpose
behind launching an International Dawah Centre is to fulfil our obligatory duty of inviting people to
have a better understanding of Islam, resulting to a more knowledgeable, tolerant and peaceful
international community.
By the will of Allah, The Most High, and the generosity of our Muslim brothers and sisters, till present
we have raised £116,000 towards this ambitious project. We want to assure all our donors that the
money raised so far, has been put aside into a savings account.
At the time, our aim was to purchase the Kassaba building in North London. The reason why we could
not go through with this building was due to legal conditions attached to Kassaba; a 2999 years lease,
which meant that the landlord could impose certain covenants on us.
Since then, we have found an alternative building, Alhamdulillah, that we are pursuing. This particular
building is located in the UK for which we have already paid a refundable deposit and now we are
waiting for legal obstacles to be cleared, In shaa Allah.
Inclusive to this campaign, we are in the process of acquiring land in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda
(Central Africa) to have an International Dawah Centre, In Shaa Allah. We have also been offered a
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Your patience, understanding and generous contributions are sincerely appreciated and we hope
to still have you on board supporting this great mission, In shaa Allah. May Allah, The Most High,
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Jaariyah for you and your family In shaa Allah. We will update you on these campaigns accordingly.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information.  

Jazakumullahu Khairan

Mohamed Ali
Chairman
“And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.”
[Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:272]

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SOUL

“Do not look to the sins of people as if you are Lords, but
look to your own sins as if you are slaves. Have mercy on
the people of affliction and praise Allah for your well-be-

ing, and never say, ‘This person is from the people of
Hellfire, and this person is from the people of Paradise’.
Do not be arrogant over the sinners, but rather ask Allah

to grant them hidayah (guidance)”.

[Imam Malik]

Reflection

‘Entering into Islam’

By Islam Channel Producer Yeota Imam
Follow Yeota on Twitter @Ye0ta

Not a dry eye is left in a gathering when a man A misbelief on Islam that is spreading is the
or woman takes the ‘Shahadah’ (declaration religion subjugates women where she is seen
of faith) and proclaims openly to the world, as a symbol of oppression. The question then
“There is no deity except Allah and Muham- arises is that why are so many women leaving
mad is His Messenger”. cultures for one that allegedly promotes restric-
tion?
This is followed by “Allahu Akbars” (Allah is the In spite of the First World celebrating itself to be
Greatest) and hugs as this newborn sinless be- a beacon of freedom and progression where
ing enters the ‘Ummah’ (community) of Prophet the residents are free to follow what they desire,
Muhammad (peace be upon him). we see that the very native women, or attribut-
ed, are the ones rejecting it, instead yearning
This, I am sure, is a scenario many of us have for a fulfillment that cannot be achieved when
witnessed first-hand, and this phenomena is attached to the material world, and/or subject
not uncommon here in the United Kingdom. to our physical desires.
According to Kevin Brice from Swansea Uni-
Ironically, following the September 11th at- versity who has specialised in studying con-
tacks in 2011, the number of people convert- version to Islam, states in his report, A Minority
ing to Islam began to rise in the West. In the within a Minority: A Report on Converts to Islam
United States, it is estimated that approximate- in the United Kingdom (2010), that these wom-
ly 30,000 citizens convert to Islam annually. en are part of an intriguing trend.
There are about 2.4 million Muslims in Britain He explains: ‘They seek spirituality, a higher
and studies suggest there are between 10,000 meaning, and tend to be deep thinkers’.
and 14,000 Caucasian converts among them.
What may seem more surprising is that it is es-
timated that 75 percent of these converts are
female.

14 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

And while we see this rising number of people a person first embraces the deen, but let us all
converting to Islam, it brings to the forefront remember that as well as this being a beautiful
our responsibilities as Muslims which includes act to witness, it also brings to question our re-
inviting others to the eternal truth of Islam. It sponsibility to that very person who sometimes
was this message that all of the Prophets, from has left everything they loved and knew, for a
Adam to Noah, Moses to Muhammad (peace community who starts off being very welcom-
and blessings be upon them all), spent their ing, but can fail to even take an opportunity to
lives propagating. pick up the phone and ask how he or she is
Entering into this community as a new Muslim coping.
can be exciting and liberating, but it can also We need to urge the ‘masajid’ (mosques) to al-
become overwhelming or even isolating over ways take an active role in catering, welcoming
time. After the initial attention and exhilaration and mentoring our new brothers and sisters in
of accepting a new way of life, a new Muslim helping making the transition to fulfilling their
can often find it difficult to come to terms with new lives as easy as possible.
the gravity of what has been accepted. The perfect example is the masjid at the time of
We see some excellent initiatives and charities the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), which was the
in the UK, like ‘Solace’ and ‘Revert to Reality’ hub of the community, where the laws of Islam
that have taken this responsibility upon them- were taught, hearts were purified, the commu-
selves to help new Muslims with their ‘deen’ nity was established, battle plans were made,
(religion). However, this does not take away the and the Islamic empire began to expand. It is
accountability that we have towards them. in this very same way we should engage in our
How many times have we called a Muslim con- masajid and make these houses of Allah ac-
vert that we know and ask how are they? tive and thriving environments where learning,
How many times have we invited a Muslim con- activism and engaging with the community is
vert to a Ramadhan gathering we have organ- always at the forefront.
ized? I take this as a reminder to myself first to make
How many times have we gifted a new Muslim an extra effort to invite a new Muslim to tea and
an Eid present to make them feel part of the a nice conversation. And when we do, let us
community? remind ourselves what we are celebrating. The
When was the last time we met up with a new fact that this person has found the sweet tran-
Muslim for a cup of tea and conversation? quility received through Islam, which is some-
We all love being present in a gathering when thing that cannot be easily quantified, as Allah
tells us in the Qur’an: “Verily, in the remem-
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 brance of Allah do hearts find rest”. [Qur’an,
Surah Ar-Rad: The Thunder, 13: 28]

15

Image courtesy of BlackStone Media

16 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

THE ROLE OF THE

MOSQUEs

“Do not prevent your women from going to the mosque,
even though their houses are better for them”.

[Reported by Abu Dawud in Al-Sunan]

Nasrine Abdirachid explores the role of mosques as the
centre point for many British Muslim communities.

Mosques (masajid) around the world are re- fer a clean, quiet environment for prayer and
vered for their breathtaking architecture and personal reflection. It is also an obligation for
stunning designs radiating elegance and Muslims to observe their five daily prayers and
beauty. The external and internal beauty of the for able-bodied healthy men to pray these five
mosque (masjid) is but a mere reflection of Is- prayers in ‘jama’ah’ (congregational prayer).
lam and its beliefs such as, ‘Tawheed’ (Oneness The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
of Allah) and ‘Jannah’ (Paradise described in said:
the Qur’an). A mosque is more than meets the “Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not
eye; it is a place that gives ‘sakinah’ (peace) come, there is no prayer for him (i.e., his prayer
for all those that attend, a place that not only is not valid), unless he has an excuse”. [Narrat-
serves as a day-to-day faith booster, but also ed by Ibn Majah]
plays an important role in the lives of Muslims, Similarly, there is also a great emphasis on ‘Ju-
being a go-to for major community functions. mu’ah’ (Friday Prayer). These are the weekly
Islam is a religion observed in private and in congregational prayers, which includes a top-
public. It encourages a community spirit, with ical ‘khutbah’ (sermon) touching upon issues of
the mosque being the place that ties all these high importance in the community and aim to
elements together. It is not unusual nowadays make a real difference. It is a prerequisite for
to view mosques as community centres as well the sermon to be held in any common language
as places of worship. based on the demographic of attendees, which
could be Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Turkish or Eng-
Place for Worship lish. Within most British Muslim communities,
the most common translation would be English.
The most important role of a mosque is to be a
place of worship. Mosques have a duty to of-

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 17

The mosque is not only a place of worship for Place for Education
men, but also women and children. Unfortu-
nately, there are too many tales of the mosque As well as being a place for guidance, the
having been turned into a symbol of patriarchy, mosque is a place of learning and knowledge,
often refusing women to worship or not provid- with the majority of mosques offering lessons
ing women’s sections. The Prophet (pbuh) said: for children, young people and adults in Islam-
“Do not prevent your women from going to the ic and Qur’anic studies and some mosques
mosque, even though their houses are better even offer tuition services in academia. Most
for them”. [Reported by Abu Dawud in Al-Su- mosques also hold events including lectures
nan] and speeches from esteemed scholars world-
The ‘Hadith’ (Recorded Tradition) above sug- wide. All these services entice Muslims to go
gests that provisions should be made by the to the mosque which acts as a multifunctional
mosques to accommodate those women who centre for the community.
choose to attend. Everyone knows their own
spiritual capabilities. Whilst some women might Place for Communal Services
find their spiritual and religious peace in the
comfort of their homes, there are others who The mosque is a place of support and therapy
benefit more from being surrounded by other for those who seek help and is a vital part of
sisters, from whom they can soak up the key its role, whether this be in the form of support
elements of knowledge. This knowledge is vital groups for those who suffer domestic abuse or
in educating their children and passing it on to helping the elderly in the wider community; the
friends and family. role of the mosque is to encourage its congre-
gation to help one another and instil within its
Place for Guidance attendees the desire to do good.
The struggle against poverty in urban areas
In this day and age, the mosques usually have is an issue that cannot be overlooked and in
an open door policy, allowing all those with recent news many mosques and Islamic or-
queries about Islam to have a safe and judg- ganisations have set up food banks and other
ment-free zone to ask these questions. It is an financial aids not just for Muslims, but for the
obligation of the mosque to provide answers wider community too. Such actions are in ac-
not only to non-Muslims, but Muslims too with- cordance with the beauty of Islam and the char-
out having fears of being looked down upon. itable ways a Muslim should live their lives.
The guidance of young men and women, who
are essentially the future of Islam, is a highly im- Ilma Magazine / Issue 15
portant role of the mosque. The mosque com-
mittee has an obligation to the youth to ensure
they are knowledgeable of the issues they face.
Issues such as peer-pressure, gang-related vi-
olence, bullying and other matters that emerge
from lack of extra-curricular activities need to
be tackled by offering services and activities.
Addressing these in youth groups and gath-
erings is highly important in ensuring young
girls and boys remain steadfast. This guidance
should be centred on ‘adab’ (manners and et-
iquettes).
The elderly are just as needing of guidance as
the younger generations. To cater to all ages
is vital for any mosque to create a comforta-
ble environment for all those who wish to attend
without any fear of discrimination.

18

uted thereafter, not only amongst guests, but
also mosque attendees. The system of course
varies from culture to culture.
Another service that is almost always held at a
mosque is a ‘janazah’ (funeral), which is a right
of every Muslim. This is the process of burial of
the body, preceded by a simple ritual involving
bathing and shrouding the body, followed by
‘Salah’ (prayer) for the deceased and his or her
family.

Place of Community

The mosque serves more than just a place of
prayer. It is a place of worship in every possi-
ble sense of the word. It should bring a positive

Converts to Islam and Muslims, who have start-
ed to improve their religiosity, also require help
and support, to ensure that they feel welcomed
and embraced, is something the mosque and
community should do. Support groups or week-
ly circles and activities to increase in brother
and/or sisterhood could strengthen a Mus-
lim’s outlook on Islam and their general ‘imaan’
(faith).
Mosques often provide other services such as
marital advice and counselling, as well as of-
ficiating marriages. The ‘Aqd al-Nikah’ service
(marriage contracts) are held at local mosques
with the ‘walima’ (wedding feast) being distrib-

Image courtesy of BlackStone Media change within people, spiritually and mentally,
so that they may have the urge and motivation
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 to bring about change in the wider commu-
nity. The mosque, ideally, should be a place
where all those who are able to provide a ser-
vice should offer it to improve the quality and
standard of living of others and for the spiritual
improvement of themselves. It is a place for
community connection, devoid of discrimina-
tion and alienation. A place of togetherness;
brotherhood and/or sisterhood.

May we be among those who have love for
our mosques and strive to ensure the better-
ment of our communities. Ameen.

19

20 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 Maryam Issadeen explores some of
the challenges facing the Muslim youth
today with reference to some of the great

examples Islam has had in history to
inspire us.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) once said to a man:

“Take advantage of five before
five: Your youth before your old

age; your health before your
illness; your wealth before your
times of poverty; your spare time
before you get busy; and your life

before your death”.

[Hakim, 4/306, and Musnad Ahmad]

21

Islam is absent in the lives of many Muslim know what the left has given: and a person who
youths and in this day and age they face chal- remembered Allah in privacy and his eyes shed
lenges in all regards. Their hormones are sub- tears”.
jected to constant vice and corruption. During For young Muslims growing up in the West or
these periods of ‘fitnah’ (strife and trials), it is predominantly in a non Muslim society, the is-
important for them to remember and reflect sue of “identity” comes up often in domestic
upon the following ‘Hadith’ (Recorded Tradi- politics and the media. Youth can sometimes
tion) narrated in Sahih Muslim [1031] showing be conflicted in whether they consider them-
the bountiful reward given to the practicing selves Muslims of the West, or Muslims be-
youth of Islam: longing to their family’s ethnic heritage. Some-
“Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would times these identities can be conflicting when
give protection with His Shade on the Day when one side is presented to be more “modern” or
there would be no shade but that of Him (i. e. “progressive” than the other. How can we in-
on the Day of Judgment, and they are): a just tegrate into society and yet not ascribe to the
ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship customs of that society, such as socialising with
of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the opposite gender, drinking alcohol, visiting
the mosques; two persons who love and meet clubs or being a part of what other youths do?
each other and depart from each other for the Muslims need to strike a careful balance in their
sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful wom- approach to integrating without assimilating;
an of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but something which many people may struggle
he (rejects this offer by saying):” I fear Allah” with. In society today we see many who consid-
; a person who gives charity and conceals it er themselves, for example, “British Pakistani
(to such an extent) that the right hand does not Muslims” and have thus managed to reconcile

22 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

their different backgrounds without neglecting of an adolescent and too many times we see
or rejecting the different parts of their identity. young people going down the wrong path due
An Islamic education is of paramount impor- to a lack of guidance and intervention.
tance in this regard and the first place of educa- During a time where radicalisation, racism and
tion is the home. Islam needs to be strong in the gang culture, to name a few, are rife, the impor-
family unit from infancy, so that even if a child tance of a support system for the adolescent
attends a secular school, they are still informed population is of critical need.
about their religion. Outside of the home, efforts The youth today are in need of people to look
must be made to provide some form of Islamic up to, to learn from and to be inspired by. Whilst
education particularly as the children become there are numerous scholars who do great work
older. Local mosques may have classes that in this regard such as Ustadh Nouman Ali
would serve this purpose. Similarly, youth pro- Khan and Sheikh Omar Suleiman, sometimes
grams and gatherings where children could the youth may not be interested in learning from
meet with fellow Muslims will help cultivate a someone from such a different background
love for the mosque as well as encourage them to them. Sometimes it may be that they need
to keep company with like-minded people as someone their age, with their hobbies and inter-
well as scholars. ests that they can relate to. Through this, they
Beyond formal education, children should also cultivate respect and eventually grow to be in-
have access to mentors, role models or some terested in the message of these youth and in
kind of support system particularly as they en- the case of those promoting Islam, this can be
ter the teenage years. This formative period a turning point for youth at risk.
can be the point to make or break the future
23
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Young Muslims around the world today are sticking to the decision of the Prophet (pbuh).
making use of modern technology to reach out The army proceeded with Usama as their lead-
to others, to inspire them and to spread the er and the battle was successful, allowing the
message of Islam. Some of these youth include Muslims to overcome the Romans for the first
Mohamed Zeyara, a Canadian medical stu- time.
dent whose YouTube videos discuss pertinent
as well as humorous issues for Muslims today. A’ishah bint Abu Bakr
Kamal Saleh, a young Australia poet whose
spoken word YouTube videos have affected The noble wife of the Prophet Muhammad
Muslims and people of various other faiths alike (pbuh), A’ishah bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be
through their beauty and honesty and Nazma pleased with her), is a notable role model for
Khan; the young Bangladeshi American who the youth particularly for ladies, young and old.
harnessed the power of social media to create Despite being young at the time of marriage
the annual “World Hijab Day”, which educates she displayed maturity, wisdom and a devotion
Muslims and non-Muslims alike about the sig- to Islam well beyond her years. A clear exam-
nificance of the headscarf in over one hundred ple of this is when the following verse of The
and forty countries worldwide. Noble Qur’an was revealed:
There are also a number of sporting figures “O Prophet, say to your wives, ‘If you should
both worldwide and locally who have been desire the worldly life and its adornment, then
able to express their talents while at the same come, I will provide for you and give you a gra-
time holding firmly to their faith. These include cious release. But if you should desire Allah
British sporting champions Moeen Ali (cricket) and His Messenger and the home of the Here-
and Mo Farah (athletics), all of who are shining after - then indeed, Allah has prepared for the
examples for our youth who have an interest in doers of good among you a great reward’”.
sports, which they wish to pursue. [Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab: The Combined Forc-
We are likewise fortunate to have numerous role es, 28-29]
models from Islamic history to look up to. Their A’ishah was the first of the wives of the Prophet
passion and unwavering faith in Islam from a (pbuh) to choose the way of Allah, The Most
tender age is a great source of inspiration for High, and His Messenger (pbuh) and the other
our youth today. wives followed her example thereafter.
She lived for many years after the death of her
Usama ibn Zaid husband (pbuh) and in that time was a bea-
con of knowledge for those around her. Due to
Usama ibn Zaid was the son of the Prophet Mu- her proximity to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh),
hammad’s (pbuh) adopted son Zaid ibn Har- she was able to educate others upon the finer
ithah (may Allah be pleased with them both) details of his life, a legacy that lasts till today.
and his wife Barakah or Umm Ayman (may Due to her dedication to Islam, productive use
Allah be pleased with her), the slave girl who of time and knowledge and willingness to teach
served the Prophet’s (pbuh) mother Aminah others, Muslims today are aware of the ‘Sun-
bint Wahb at the age of just twenty, Usama nah’ (teachings and practices) of the Prophet
was appointed commander of an army sent to Muhammad (pbuh) in a way that would other-
encounter the Romans by the Prophet (pbuh). wise not have been possible.
This army included noble personalities such as
Abu Bakr and Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah The Youth of the Cave
be pleased with them), yet it was Usama who
was named Commander-in-Chief. The eighteenth chapter of the Noble Qur’an,
The Prophet (pbuh) passed away before the ar- Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) shares the remarka-
my’s departure and when it was suggested to ble story of a group of youths who were stead-
his successor, the Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah fast in their faith at a time when others were not.
be pleased with him) that he replace Usama The youths were facing persecution for their
with an older leader, Abu Bakr was adamant on
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15
24

beliefs and gathered at a cave to discuss this of Islam can confuse a person’s faith.
problem. Allah, The Most High, caused them
to fall into a deep sleep for three hundred and Get the answers you need by having a
nine years and once they awoke, the people of well-rounded Islamic education. This is para-
the time had become Believers and the youths mount. Children should be able to ask ques-
were able to live amongst them and practice tions as basic as “how do I know there is a
their faith as they wished. This story shows how God?” and have them answered comprehen-
Allah, The Most High, protects His followers; sively to solidify their faith.
these young people were not prophets or nota-
ble religious figures, but just adolescents who Be modest regardless of the surrounding im-
believed in the true message. modesty. The Arabic word for modesty, ‘haya’
comes from the same root letters as the Ara-
Some advice for the youth bic word for life, “hayaat”. As Mufti Ismail Menk
from respected scholars in puts it: “Modesty is not just about how we dress.
Islam: What we say, how we treat others, the places
we go to and the friends we choose are all part
Strive to attain ‘taqwa’ (consciousness of Al- of it”. Modesty means more than just dressing
lah) at all times; if we are consistent in our reli- a particular way. Most importantly modesty in
gious duties it will become easier for us to bring Islam is about being shy in front of Allah, The
more Islamic practices into our lives and to en- Most High, which will in turn guide our actions.
courage others. Muslims must be conscious of what their du-
Study the Seerah (biography of Prophet Mu- ties to their Lord are at all times and also be
hammad, pbuh); take note of how he treated aware of unwittingly condoning or conforming
others and how he spread Islam in all situations. to non-Islamic behaviour.
He was the best and most perfect example for
us to learn from. The youth of today face new and increasingly
Work on improving yourself by being open difficult challenges each day. Whilst family and
to correction when you are wrong and always friends can make a difference in their lives, help
strive to increase your knowledge. and guidance ultimately comes from Allah, The
Know your boundaries and so beware of en- Most High.
gaging in critical studies or discussions of Islam
until your faith is strong enough to distinguish May He grant our youth His Mercy and Guid-
between truth and falsehood. Critical analyses ance to the straight path, may He make the
youth of today our great leaders of tomor-
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 row, and may He make the youth of those
who will be under His Shade on the Day of
Judgement. Ameen.

25



KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SOUL

“And He found you lost and
guided (you)…”

[Qur’an, Surah Ad-Duhaa: The Morning Hours, 93:7]

28 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

“PgdiioTlvilhnaienrrgegsaefdxrlocheeefhicarkatttrrhwi,oietthn(hreyFerea, ammierntseehoedam,nldvpsbeirtenrusasagdhynioyesQucirunile,ndrgfoaa"f.tnshtA,eilnlagh,),

By Aseel Saif

As a poet, presenter, producer, performer, Did you face any obstacles when you
pedagogist, postgraduate researcher and pol- embraced Islam? If yes, how did you
ymath, he has proven to be an all-rounder in- deal with them?
spirational figure and an asset to the Muslim
community in the UK and abroad. There is going to be a necessary change in
Currently, Tommy is best known for his spoken lifestyle and practises, primarily, the implemen-
word poetry as well as developing his doctoral tation of prayer. For a person who did not live
thesis exploring the educational arena in which a religious lifestyle, implementing prayer in my
migration, minorities and markets intersect. It life was something I had to become accus-
is clear that imagination, initiative and industry tomed to.
are embedded in the DNA of Tommy Evans.
I had the opportunity to sit with him where they There is an ‘ayah’ (verse) which is mentioned
delved into topics such as embracing Islam, in the Qur’an: “Do people think that they will
convert pastoral care and the art scene. This is be left alone because they say: “We believe,”
what he had to say! and will not be tested”. [Surah Al-Ankabut: The
Spider, 29:2]
Why did you embrace Islam?
Embracing the faith requires certain challeng-
I am often asked this question and the expec- es, test, trials and tribulations. As a more spirit-
tancy is that it is a truncated narrative often ually mature individual, I now reflect upon how
identifying a road to Damascus moment; a many of those tests were necessary and how
sudden flash of inspiration wherein one recog- many are needless and superfluous. One has
nises the truth, embraces it and implements it. to expect a certain level of exertion to suc-
I often say my journey to Islam was a decade cessfully implement new found faith, which
long and the voyage afterwards was more in- I guess is applicable to any other religion or
teresting, exhilarating and turbulent. However, lifestyle. But I am a believer in working hard as
the journey to Islam encompasses my entire opposed to hard work. “Hard work” is sugges-
life story. I would say that I was guided and tive of a begrudging acceptance of current cir-
hope to remain guided. cumstances. Whereas to “work hard” denotes
awareness of the reality before oneself and a
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 willingness to face it head on.

29

Did these challenges put you off at other mosques I attended, mainly on account
some point? of cultural incongruity; this is what I meant earli-
er when discussing “unnecessary challenges”.
The challenges never put me off in my com- One’s initial exertion as a new or newly practis-
mitment to the faith, but I would be lying if I ing Muslim should be focused on implement-
said I did not find the challenges hard. My area ing the Pillars of Islam as opposed to “shifting
of contention, now as someone who is older scenes”, changing cultures or lifestyle. Ideally,
in worldly and spiritual years, is that many of one would hope for some empathy amongst
those challenges did not need to occur, espe- heritage Muslim communities and understand-
cially in finding alternatives to illicit lifestyles ing that converts will make mistakes. Although
when there are so many ‘Halal’ (permissible) we are expected to have ‘haya’ (modesty) for
options available, especially in London. The ar- the sake of Allah, justice for the sake of Allah
eas where one should exert oneself are the Pil- and consciousness of Allah; sometimes we
lars of the Faith, prayer, fasting, giving to chari- should still be patient with the faux pas of new
ty, reading Qur’an, doing ‘dhikr’ (remembrance or newly practising Muslims. Education is key
of Allah), reflection and studying. All of which in fostering this understanding and emotional
leads to the perfection of character, which the intelligence as is patience with heritage Muslim
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) en- communities on the part of converts.
couraged. This is what the ‘deen’ (religion) is
really about. Where did you go to learn about
Islam?
Ramadhan tends to be a time for
many converts to feel a greater part Prior to embracing the religion, I researched
of the ‘Ummah’ (community) in spite Islam from 1995 to 2005. My mother was a
of their challenges. What was yours product of the 1960s and so she was very po-
like? litically active. We had books lining the walls
of the house. I was always encouraged to
Fasting was something I had to get used to have an inquisitive approach to life. Though, I
which I had never done before. As someone probably learnt more in my first year of being
with a disciplined character, my rigorous work a Muslim than in the previous decade. Beyond
ethic prepared me for the lifestyle in Islam and the mosque, I visited libraries; especially after
being able to implement the pillars of the faith. leaving the music industry so I had a lot of free
Upon reflection, I might have been slightly na- time. I spent a lot of my waking hours in the
ive before accepting Islam as I was not aware British Museum library, which was amazing;
as to what embracing the religion would re- reading many books to edify myself in the faith,
quire and how much exertion there would be. although being a sincere, reflective and geeky
But then that may not be something specific to person, at times, prompted more questions
religion and is applicable to any new lifestyle. which hopefully I have found answers to now!
Nevertheless, I initially felt more isolation and
loneliness as a New Muslim during Ramadhan; You have a strong passion for Islamic
I had no family to break fast or celebrate Eid studies, which is embedded into the
with. teachings of the Qur’an. What does
the Qur’an mean to you?
As a convert, what are your thoughts
on pastoral care of new Muslims, par- The Qur’an is the foundation of our faith. It is as
ticularly British Muslims? simple as that. I am also learning Arabic and it
is an ongoing process as is learning English. I
New Muslims really do need exemplary pasto- would not claim I have mastered Arabic one lit-
ral care and I found that the specific mosque tle bit or claimed to be doing enough, however
I initially attended was accustomed to dealing one of the small pleasures in my life is reading
with and understanding converts. It does not Qur’an.
mean their approach was free from flaws, which
goes for all of us, but it was the best I found at The irony is those skills I spent a good dec-
the time. Whereas I felt like an outsider in the ade developing as a musician are transferra-

30 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

ble and are equally applicable in Qur’anic rec- cagey or paranoid about that because the cir-
itation. That epiphany occurred when I began cle of Halal is wider than the circle of ‘Haraam’
studying ‘tajweed’ (correct recitation) because (forbidden). We enter the arts with optimism,
I realised reading and reciting in a slow me- positivity and productivity; we look for the
lodious tone utilised similar vocal techniques I good. But the caveat is we must always refer
had learnt and developed as a rapper such as to people of knowledge first and see what they
intonation, timing, voice projection and breath have to say on such matters. One might be sur-
control. prised to know that there is a lot of guidance
from our scholars with regards to arts, media
The arts have had a clear influence in and communication.
your life and even in your journey to Therefore, I would say the key thing to think
embracing Islam. Thus, how were you about when getting into the arts scene is that
introduced into the arts scene and one should look at what their passion is and
who influenced you? then be honest with themselves. Ask important
questions such as, are you good at it and can
Those pillars were in place before my birth, so I you become good at it? To employ the “10K
am very much indebted to my family. I grew up rule” advocated by Malcolm Gladwell, one has
in a creatively literate household, a household to invest ten thousand hours into a discipline,
that cherished culture, loved learning, relished which equates to ten years to obtain mastery
reading, and was enthusiastic towards enter- of one’s craft. Are you prepared to put in that
tainment and the arts. It meant that it was the level of work?
norm for me to indulge in certain creative pur- ----
suits. Whereas your “average” young Muslim Tommy Evans lasting words of advice are truly
in the UK, perhaps a child of first generation ones to remember. They are equally applicable
migrants living in a working class household, for not only those budding artists out there but
striving to establish themselves in a sometimes also to all of us striving to be better in our cho-
hostile society, does not necessarily have the sen field and of course ‘imaan’ (faith). Like Ev-
luxury of consuming, curating or creating arts ans said, embracing Islam is an ongoing pro-
as I did; for example, being taken to the theatre cess and a lifetime journey we should all take
as my grandparents took me to see the opera pleasure in and share with others.
or painting with my father.
Watch ‘Privileged’ here:
I was enthusiastic about the arts from a young
age, I had the privilege to study art as an A Follow Tommy on Twitter
level, alongside English literature, rather than @TommyA_ManEvans
having to take science or maths. When it came
to tertiary level education, I could tell my moth- 31
er I wanted to go to Art College and she was
happy with it. Therefore, I was a product of
very auspicious and fortunate circumstances,
where I could pursue my creative dreams and
that has not been the case for a lot of young
Muslims I have met, although the landscape
does seem to be changing.

To conclude, how would you advise
Muslims who want to pursue the arts
and yet remain in the parameters of
Islam?

Whatever passion, pursuit, vocation and in-
terest we choose to follow, we should always
check if it falls in the parameters of the lawful.
We do not have to be excessively negative,

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

THE VIRTUES OF

MUHARRAM

“The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred:
Three are in succession Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and

(the fourth is) Rajab”.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol 004, Book 054, Hadith 419]

Anum Babar explores the virtues of Muharram, including the Day of Ashura.

The Islamic Calendar meaning ‘forbidden’ in Arabic and it is the
first month in the Islamic calendar, which
“He is the One who rendered the sun radi- differs from the Western Gregorian calen-
ant, and the moon a light, and He designed dar. This is because the Islamic calendar is
its phases that you may learn to count the based on phases of the moon, thus the cal-
years and to calculate. God did not create endar calculates that a complete month is
all this, except for a specific purpose. He ex- when the moon becomes full. Each month
plains the revelations for people who know”. is approximately twenty nine days and thus,
[Qur’an, Surah Yunus: Prophet Jonah, 10:5] shorter than the Gregorian calendar by elev-
The Islamic calendar consists of twelve en to twelve days in a year. This is why sa-
months in a year of 354 days, which is used cred months such as Ramadhan, Hajj and
to determine important dates such as ‘Ram- Muharram are subject to change; as a result
adhan’ (the month of fasting) and ‘Dhul arriving earlier each year.
Hijjah’ (the month for pilgrimage to Makkah). It is stated in the Holy Qur’an: “The number
‘Muharram’ originates from the word ‘hurum’ of months in the sight of Allah are twelve, so

32 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

ordained by Allah, the day He created the tion for when Prophet Musa (pbuh) and his
heavens and the earth; Of them four are sa- followers were saved by Allah by being able
cred. That is the correct religion, so wrong to cross the parting of the Red Sea. Upon
not yourselves therein”. [Qur’an, Surah hearing this, the Prophet (pbuh) said, “We
At-Tawbah: The Repentance, 9:36] are more closely related to Musa than you”
Throughout Surah At-Tawbah, the four sa- and directed the Muslims to fast on the day
cred months are mentioned; Dhul Qa’dah, of Ashura”. [Abu Dawud]
Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab, whereby
the act of repentance and the prevention of Fasting on the Day of Ashura
sin are heavily stressed.
“The year is of twelve months, out of which Fasting on the Day of Ashura (tenth day) is
four months are sacred: Three are in suc- encouraged for Muslims in Muharram as a
cession Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Mu- sign of gratitude to Allah, The Most Gener-
harram, and (the fourth is) Rajab”. [Sahih ous. The Prophet (pbuh) also suggested for
Al-Bukhari, Vol 004, Book 054, Hadith 419] us to fast either a day after or a day before
the Day of Ashura.
The Essence of Muharram It is reported that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be
pleased him) used to say: “We should fast
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Al- on two days: the ninth and tenth of Muhar-
lah be pleased with him), that the Prophet ram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The community”. [Al-Tirmidhi]
best of fasts after the month of Ramadhan It was also narrated that Ibn Abbas (may Al-
are in the Month of Allah, which you call Mu- lah be pleased with him) was asked about
harram. And the best of prayer after the ob- fasting on the Day of Ashura. He said, “I did
ligatory prayer is the night prayer”. [Muslim, not see the Messenger of Allah (blessings
1163] and peace be upon him) fast a day while
The month of Muharram holds many virtues more avid to seek its virtue than this day (the
and opportunities for Muslims to become Day of Ashura)”.  [Bukhari, 2006; Muslim,
closer to Allah, The Most Merciful. The tenth 1132]
day of Muharram is marked as a virtuous One’s good and bad deeds should be mon-
day; this is because historically a great deal itored throughout Muharram, increasing
was accomplished on this day. One instance one’s deeds in the first and minimising the
is when Prophet Musa or Moses (pbuh) and latter. This could be done by reflecting upon
his people triumphed against the oppres- your actions and learning about what is per-
sion of Firaun (Pharaoh), by the will of Allah, mitted and forbidden in the ‘deen’ (religion),
Firaun and his people were drowned, and as what pleases Allah and brings you close to
a result of this victory, Prophet Musa (pbuh) Him, and what displeases Allah and takes
observed fast on this day as a symbol of you away from Him.
gratitude to Allah, The Almighty. Islam is a source of unification, acceptance
According to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be and brotherhood. When you seek knowl-
pleased with him), when the Prophet Mu- edge, spread it to others and when you pray,
hammad (pbuh) completed ‘hijrah’ (migra- pray for others. For we are the blessed ‘Um-
tion from Makkah to Madinah), he found the mah’ (community) of Prophet Muhammad
Jewish community were also fasting on the (pbuh).
tenth day of Muharram out of commemora-
33
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Getting to know
A’ishah (RA)

Raising Boys

Learning from
Imam Ghazali

Self Defence Depression

Feminism
in Islam

Islam in Africa

34 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

corner

Women’s AM is a unique and exciting show for the modern Muslimah.
By Islam Channel Presenter Shahina Khatun.

Visit Shahina’s blog:
www.lyricallyoutspoken.wordpress.com

Y eota Imam, the Director, Series Pro- What also makes this women’s show unique
ducer and Ilma writer, explains: is the fact that the presenters and panellists
“Through this show Islam Channel are either born or raised in the UK. Besides,
has put the voice of the Muslim wom- their passion for Islam and having their voic-
an on the map. With the media’s scrutiny of Is- es heard is no less than anywhere else in the
lam and in a society where seeing the Muslim world. Nazia Jalali, who is an architect and
woman as a subjugated symbol of oppression author of a children’s novel ‘The House of Ibn
is the norm; Women’s AM shatters that mis- Kathir’, is also from the original Women’s AM
conception with one blow”. team from season one. She describes Wom-
This team of strong-minded Muslim women en’s AM as: “A show that addresses challeng-
have hit the screen to speak publicly for them- es affecting Muslim women living in the West
selves in a world where they are constantly as well as celebrating their achievements and
spoken for. With Women’s AM we are seeing strengths; it is a show that is breaking stereo-
women of different ages and backgrounds types and misconceptions and building bridg-
intellectually discussing the news, topical is- es towards understanding the role of women
sues and Islam, and how it is as relevant to- in Islam”.
day as it was 1400 years ago. Every show invites a guest as part of the pan-
Yeota Imam further explains the need to have el in relation to the subject being discussed.
Muslim women on screen who are more rep- The guest’s backgrounds vary from being a
resentative of the community, especially in full-time mother, home-schooler, psychologist,
Britain: “It is these Muslim women who truly doctor, teacher, youth worker; Muslim women
represent the ‘Ummah’ (community of Mus- who are active within the community, sisters
lims); women who are dynamic, intelligent and from all walks of life empowering other sisters.
confident and fiercely proud of their Islamic Following the success of season one of Wom-
identity”. She proudly continues: “We have en’s AM, season two was launched, due to
had feedback from all over the world, from Ni- huge public demand with many new faces
geria to France, from women who are excited holding a host of experiences and talents to
that finally their voices and opinions are being their names.
represented on the screen”.  

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 35

One of these talented new faces includes ing and anything else that is required in mak-
Nusrat Lodda’s, a convert to Islam from Ro- ing this show happen. The ideas and topics
man Catholicism. She is an avid blogger and discussed on the show are from the sisters
writes especially on issues pertaining to gen- themselves, breaking the notion or norm of
der, race and society. She is keen on explor- Muslim women being dictated by men. Whilst
ing issues that affect people individually and the media generally likes to portray the con-
collectively, with the aim of “fostering a condu- trary, here on Women’s AM we see the Mus-
cive environment for dialogue on these issues lim woman expressing herself, defending and
to occur. This is the purpose of Women’s AM, propagating Islam without calling for it to be
to provide a platform for women to engage in reformed in order for her to seem palatable for
discourse, and making a positive contribution the ‘modern’ world.
to an informed, tolerant and cohesive society.
It has truly been unique in providing alterna- Rather Women’s AM attempts to clarify that
tive perspectives, and an invaluable insight Muslim women thrived in all fields of life, sole-
into societal issues that affect Muslim women ly due to Islam. Women were leading scholars
living in the West. The experience I have had in various Islamic sciences, flourished in spe-
as a new member of the Women’s AM team cialist areas like medicine, astronomy and ed-
has been one of insight and intrigue at every ucation. We know the famous example of Fati-
corner. I have been privileged to have the ma Al-Fihri who in 859 CE, established the first
experience of working with sisters who show university the world has ever known, located
zeal and deep passion for Islam but are also in Fez, Morocco. The list of achievements of
keen to get to the heart of matters affecting Muslim women is endless. And history is wit-
the community. With each of my colleagues ness to what seems amazing today, to be the
being unique, I feel that each minute in their norm in the Islamic world.
presence is an opportunity to learn more and
develop a closer bond”. Yeota describes the team as: “…extraordinary
Nusrat, who is from a legal background, goes in their dedication and commitment to mak-
onto say; “Women’s AM continues to have ing Women’s AM a success. Most of the team
a profound impact upon members of soci- do not even come from a media background,
ety, both within the Muslim community and yet are impressive in understanding how the
amongst the wider society. One encounter world of media works. Their confidence in be-
that really warmed my heart and further em- ing in front of the camera and being able to
phasised this impact was when a non-Muslim discuss any given topic under the sun does
woman rang up the show to tell us how de- not come easy to everyone!”
spite not being Muslim she benefitted from the
discussions we had, even complimenting on Women’s AM is a show created by Muslim
our hijabs! Bless her!” women, about women, for women and of
Aired live, four days a week, Women’s AM is course brothers too, if they want to learn.
not only produced by a woman, the entire show
is put together by women (with the exception Tune into Women’s AM on Islam Channel
of our very supportive camera-men!). Unlike Sky 806
mainstream channels, the team of presenters
support in researching, scripting, guest find- Live at 11am Mon-Thurs (UK Time)
Repeat at 11pm Mon-Thurs (UK Time)

36 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Broadcasting from the heart of London, Islam Channel provides
alternative news, current affairs and entertainment programming

from an Islamic perspective.

LIVE STREAMING ONLINE AT

www.islamchannel.tv

ISLAM CHANNEL IS AVAILABLE ON

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SOUL

The power of du’a: “When Satan asked for
respite until the Day of Resurrection, Allah

granted it to him. Satan’s prayer can be
answered, yours can be too”.

[Anonymous]

Advertise in
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40 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

A TRAVELLER’S GUIDE
BODY MIND SOUL
FOOD BITES
POETIC VOICES

RECOMMENDED READING

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 41

42 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

A Traveller’s Guide:

OMANDiscover Majestic

Elena Nikolova is the creator of
MuslimTravelGirl. She helps
Muslims travel the world in style
without breaking the bank.

You can connect with Elena on Twitter:
@MuslimTravelGrl

Sultan Qaboos Grand
Mosque
Mattrah Souq

City of Nizwa

Falaj Darris

Town of Misfat Al
Abreyeen

Wadi Shab Valley

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 43

Country Profile

OMAN

Officially known as ‘The Sultanate of Oman’, is one of the most majestic and
hospitable countries in the world. It is situated in the southeastern coast of
the Arabian Peninsula bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the north-
west, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine
borders with Iran and Pakistan. The population is approximately four million and
half of whom are expatriates living in the country. In 2012, Muscat was named
the second best city to visit, taking centre stage for cultural events, a wide op-
tion of aquatic activities as well as new luxurious accommodations.

Country: Sultanate of Oman
Capital: Muscat
Major Languages: Arabic, English
Major Religion: Islam
Currency: Omani Riyal
Climate: Very hot and humid summers reaching up to 40 degrees celsius and
pleasant winters bordering a Mediterranean climate rarely climbing much above 30
degrees Celsius.
Best time to Travel: Depending on the individual, the best recommended time to
travel for a summery breeze and winter sun is between November and March. This
is to allow tourists to explore easily, preventing them from feeling too hot or cold. Or
if you do not mind the Omani heat, travel between August and October.

44 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Muscat
Nizwa

Al Dharkhiliya
Sharqiyah

Overview tourism industry and the number of tourists, vis-
iting this pearl, increases annually. The country
For many people, Oman is a mystery, as research also has modern oil reserves. In 2010 they came
shows that the most popular destinations to travel first as the most improved nation, giving priority
to in the Middle East are the United Arab Emirates, to the education of their citizens. Oman is consid-
Qatar, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. Thus, ered as a peaceful nation with a high per capita
Oman is yet to be discovered by exploratory trav- income and strong currency.
ellers and in recent years the country has been Oman has good travel links globally, so travelling
making great efforts to become a tourist destina- from Europe to Oman is relatively simple, either
tion for Muslim and non-Muslim travellers alike. with their national carrier Oman Air or with other
Oman has a rich historical narrative due to its Middle Eastern carriers. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and
empirical governance under the Persians and Doha are only an hour’s flight away. Moreover,
Greeks. Islam was adopted during the time of the Oman is easily accessible by car from the UAE,
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the approximately four and a half hours away. Visas
year 628 AD. are available on arrival for majority of the nation-
From the 17th century until 19th century, Oman alities and they cost up to twenty pounds per per-
had its own diminutive empire particularly in East son.
Africa. Therefore, Omani culture is a hybrid as it Most Omanis are Muslims with seventy five per-
shares characteristics of its Arab neighbours and cent of the population following the Ibadi sect,
due its own expansion from the Swahili coast to but it is not very different from mainstream Islam.
the Indian Ocean. The deeply rooted history has Oman is very tolerant of other religions; in fact it
been the driving force for developing Oman’s has places of worship catering for Christians, Hin-
dus and many other religions.
Ilma Magazine / Issue 15
45

Sultan Qaboos Grand
Mosque

In my opinion, the first place you should visit in Oman
is The Sultan Qaboos Mosque situated in Muscat. The
mosque is magnificent and immaculate with beautiful
gardens and a serene ambiance. It was completed in 2001
by Sultan Qaboos and can hold up to twenty thousand
worshippers. The mosque includes a library where you
can spend some time reading wonderful books on Islam,
history and science.
There are also tours available in English and Arabic
for those who would like to explore the mosque and
learn more about the rituals and the surrounding areas.
Non-Muslim visitors should adhere to modest clothing and
cover their arms and legs.

46 Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Mattrah Souq

Mattrah souq is located in the Mattrah area close to
the oldest port of Oman and before the discovery of
oil there, it was the centre of commerce.
The ‘souq’ (open air-market place) is close to the cor-
niche with a nice view of the sea and is visited every
year by thousands of ‘cruise ship’ tourists. Muscat is a
popular destination for cruise ships and Mattrah is the
main port area. In this area, you can find many tradi-
tional Arabian rugs, silver, gold, traditional diggers,
exotic spices and much more. The shop owners will
urge you to come in and buy and of course haggling
is part of the tradition. So make sure you do not settle
for the first given price!

MattrOamhaSnouq

City of Nizwa CITYOOmFaNn IZWA 47

The city of Nizwa is located approximately 140 km from
Muscat. It is one of the oldest cities in Oman and the
former capital; a hub for trade, religion, arts and educa-
tion. It is an easy drive from Muscat to Nizwa; you can
plan it as a day trip or even spend a few days exploring
the area.
When in Nizwa, visit the Nizwa Forts which is one of
the most visited national and cultural monuments in the
country. For some authentic shopping, do not forget to
visit the Nizwa Souq, which is the second largest open
air market after Mattrah Souq in Muscat.

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

FalaOjmDanarris Falaj Darris

TownAborfeMyeisefnat Al Whilst you are in Nizwa, pay a visit to Falaj Dar-
ris in the Al Dakhiliyah region, which is a UN-
48 ESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. This is
one of the largest ‘falaj’ in Oman. A ‘falaj’ is a
traditional water delivery system, which came
to existence as far as two thousand years ago.
Even today, aflaj (plural) are extremely im-
portant due to their engineering ingenuity for
maintaining human and agricultural life. You
can spend some time in the park surrounding
the falaj and enjoy a glimpse of greenery whilst
much of the area is dry. It really helps you ap-
preciate the gifts that our Lord has provided
us with

Town of Misfat Al
Abreyeen

Whilst in the region of Al Dharkhiliya, take the
time to visit a hidden gem of archeology, the
town of Misfat Al Abreyeen. This is by far my
favourite place in Oman and astonishingly it is
not very well known to tourists. The rocky can-
yon town of Misfat Al Abriyeen is close to the
rural town of Al Hamra, which will give you a
glimpse into how people used to live in ancient
times and how they sustained themselves.
The most striking features are the ancient
mud houses perched on top of the mountains.
There are date palm trees and greenery on the
mountain which is a rare sign for Oman’s bless-
ed landscape. The reason behind this green-
ery is due to the falaj system that runs through
the village that ensures the sustenance of the
inhabitants.
I would highly recommend you spend a few
hours with your family in this area and take a
short history lesson too, as the environment
could have not been more befitting. Make sure
you wear comfortable shoes and you take
plenty of bottled water as the area is hilly and
there is a lot of walking required.

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15

Wadi Shab Valley Wadi Shab Valley

Wadi Shab is a must see for any tourist who wants to Oman
attend a day trip in Oman. Unfortunately, I discovered
this magnificent valley too late! It is located in the Al
Sharqiyah region and is less than two hours’ drive
from Muscat. There are some hotels available and
camping sites for those who are more adventurous.
‘Wadi’ in Arabic means valley or dry riverbed, which
contains water only during times of heavy rains.
According to Lonely Planet, Wadi Shab is one of the
most popular and breathtaking destinations in Oman.
You can see waterfalls, greenery, terraced plantations
and aquamarine pools which you can discreetly swim
in. There is also a boat trip that can take you around
the wadi making it easier for you to see up close the
beauty of the nature.
Thereafter, there is an option for you to visit a par-
tially submerged cave. If you would like to visit the
main attraction of the waterfall and cave then you will
require a thirty minutes hike and also a swim through
the natural pools in order to reach the waterfall via the
submerged cave.

Oman is one of my favourite Gulf countries to visit in the Middle East. This is because, not only does
the country contain a great deal of traditions, it is also modernized, but not at the expense of its rich
cultural and natural beauty. I highly recommend you visit Oman whilst its traditions and historical
sites are still intact. It is certainly the perfect honeymoon destination!

One of the blessings of being a Muslim is that we are encouraged to travel and admire the beautiful
nature Allah, The Most High, created for mankind as a Mercy and Remembrance of Him. One of the
best aspects of travelling as Muslims is wherever you pray, each and every place will testify about
you on the Day of Judgment that we have been there and praised our Lord. Let’s make more and more
places testify for us rather than against us, In shaa Allah (if Allah wills).

Ilma Magazine / Issue 15 49

KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SOUL

“Regret is repentance”.

[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Sunan Ibn Majah, 4252]