Returning to hijabi blogging to share a wonderful free ebook on Islam

It has been a long time since I wrote on this blog. I rather loss the impetus for it when I had our first child as fashion became a much lesser priority than parenting.

However I've now started working part-time and our child is in preschool a few days a week so I feel more focused on the outside world and what I wear.

Pleasingly my wonderful teacher in Islam Imam Afroz Ali has released his eBook UNVEILING HIJAB: An Explanation of the Head Veil of the Muslim Woman. He was able to release the book for free through the support of Knowledge without Barriers who financially support the Islamic educational provider SeekersGuidance and their aim to enable everyone, everywhere to benefit from Islamic knowledge by making all their courses and educational services completely free.

This is a fascinating book explaining some of the differences among the interpretations about hijab, khimar and jilbab. But it does explain clearly that wearing a headscarf covering the head and chest is obligatory upon Muslim women.

SeekersGuidance also have a very good Questions and Answers section where they address one of the questions that plagues many hijabis: Should I Remove the Hijab Because I Am a Bad Example for Others?. It is easy to feel that we are not worthy of being the ambassadors of Islam that wearing hijab makes us. But as Shaykh Faraz Rabbani states in his answer "Though we pray that Allah makes us good examples for others, this is neither our goal nor the basis of what we are held accountable for. Rather, we are held accountable for the obligations due upon us towards our Lord and His creation."

Vietnam Abaya

Most cultures have a history of modest dressing, its only recently that people started wearing exposing clothes that are tight and see through. The film Heave & Earth contains many images of modest dressing, I'm not sure if they are indeed traditional Vietnamese outfits but they are beautiful none the less. The characters in Good Morning Vietnam also wear similar clothes.

This one on the left is quite tight, a good reminder that the headscarf should be drapped over the bosom.

Here's two similar abayas from Aab

Aab Blue Cosy Cowl Abaya for £44.99

Aab Cinnamon Swirl Abaya for £44.99

Iranian Esarp

I regularly watch the wonderful show Mosaic by Link TV which organises Middle Eastern produced news into a week day half hour current events show in English. This image is of a beautiful muhajabat on al-Alam TV who is wearing an esarp (satin scarf) that repsonds beautifully under the stage lights.

Aker Online Esarp 4098202 for 80TYL ~ USD $50

This scarf is quite different but equally beautiful in my opinion, here is a set similar to that the news anchor is wearing. I hope the sisters who wear abaya are enjoying my abaya sets, I myself rarely wear abaya however they are beautiful garments and I support all my sisters wishing to please their Creator (swt).

Gold anchor by celeritas

"Kreuzberger girlies" - Streetsyle Two

Source: herr klamm - kreuzberger girlies 1

Its fun to pair a bright eşarp with a black outfit but I'm not such a fan of this one. I have made three looks with black as the primary outfit color with an abaya, silk trench or sari option. As walking or dancing around in heels can be tough and the picture is of flats I went for them for these looks. Two of the eşarp featured here are shayla which some may find easier to style and provide more coverage. Most eşarp are square but there seems to be a rise in the production of shayla as these become more acceptable in Turkey. Shayla are perceived as more Islamic than squares as they are how Arab women wear headscarves rather than the Euro-Turkish tradition of ladies wearing square scarves tied under the chin especially those who are older and live in the villages.

"Kreuzberger girlies" - Streetsyle One

Source: herr klamm - kreuzberger girlies 1

Here's the first woman from my streetstyle feature and I hope all my abaya wearing readers like this look as its a Tesettür look with an abaya. Here's a look that I've done inspired by the outfit, with two footwear choices. I've made the look quiet sporty so you could wear these cute sneaker inspired flats or for those of you who don't like that look you could wear the slave sandals as worn in the photo.

Purple in the rain!

Sorry that this outfit is a bit mad, but I loved the idea of updating the traditional yellow Mac and Wellies walk or work at the dock in the rain. If you look in detail at the scarf you'll see all the detail of boats at dock but not people, so its hijab appropriate. The umbrella has a Monet on it which is just gorgeous and it's not as cringy as a yellow rain hat! I really like this deep purple caftan but its sleeves are too short. The abaya is the classic plain purple from Desert Store which I've always loved, it looks nicer than a t-shirt and the sleeves are nice and loose.

Rayyan's Sixteenth Outfit - Abaya Substitutes

I chosen three abaya/jilbab options which emphasise different parts of Rayyan's look:

If you like the teal shirt, try this cord abaya:

Shukr's Corduroy Princess Dress in Forest Green for USD $54.95


If you'd love an abaya in the dark denim of Rayyan's skirt, check out this abaya:

Simply Islam's Leisure Jilbab: Fine Denim CA03 Black for $61.16


Or if what you love is the teal-black contrast, this abaya is a gorgeous look and includes a great party hijab:

The Canadian Muslim's Elegant Navy/Cyan Embroidered Georgette Open Abaya w/ Scarf for USD $79.99

Rayyan's Fifteenth Outfit - Abaya Substitute

Layered Dress 2Pce Abaya in Brown/Maroon for AUD $149.99

Rayyan's Thirteenth Outfit - Abaya Substitute

Here's a very pretty dress Arrayan Dress in Sand for USD $79.95 Althought it's not cheap you get two items for the prices of one, you can wear the emboridered dress by itself or wear the open dress over other items in your wardrobe. You could even buy some of the other Arrayan Dresses which come in Sea Blue over Black and Grape over White and mix and match the layers.