A Dream That Came True – Al-Barakah Abayas

It has been just a year or so since I started wearing the abayas, as I had written in my previous post. Alhamdhulilah.

Needless to say, AZ and I have done a lot of abaya shopping.

Many times, we have come to realise that there are very limited places that we can go to buy them. At most other times, the abayas can also be very pricey. AZ and I always wonder… how many sisters would actually rather shop for other clothes rather than spending on abayas… which can at times hit prices as high as $200?

Reaching towards the end of last Ramadan, we both made a niyah – that we should start an online business selling abayas at very affordable prices.

We prayed a lot towards this, and started groundwork on making our dream possible. Allah (S.W.T) made many aspects of our challenging journey easier on many instances. We found reliable suppliers, who were supportive of our small orders. They did their best to meet our miminum order quantity needs and other requests.

What AZ and I enjoyed more on this process was coming up with the online platform for our new business – our website. For a long time, AZ and I would always talk about starting our business in the future which can bring both our skills – his creative design and IT skills and my writing ability – together.

Alhamdhulilah, Allah (S.W.T) made that dream come true too with this business.

We also wanted to choose a name with lots of barakah, and honestly, Al-Barakah Abayas was the first name we both thought of together. Nevertheless, we brainstormed and came up with several other names. Of these, we shortlisted seven. From there, we decided to ask our mothers to choose a name from these (without telling them what we had in mind.)

And Masha-Allah, they both chose the same name too.

With this, AZ worked on the design of our logo, which incorporated ‘Bismillahirrahmanirahim’ into it, and I came up with tagline. Elegance… With Modesty…

Green is our colour theme. We chose green because green is a colour that we think of when relating a hue to Islam.

"Greenness" is mentioned several times in the Quran, describing the state of the inhabitants of paradise.

Reclining on green Cushions and rich Carpets of beauty

— Sura 55, verse 76

Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Water Pure and Holy.

— Sura 76, verse 21

And with these, Al-Barakah Abayas was born. Alhamdhulilah.

When our abayas arrived, each beautiful in its own way, we named them too. In pretty Muslimah names that depict what they look like.  A gold-beaded abaya is named Mazneen (which means shining of gold) and so on. Most of our abayas have names that mean beautiful, elegant, etc.

We eventually decided we also had to tap on Facebook too for our business.

Alhamdhulilah, business has been good. Sisters in our friends’ and relatives’ circles have been giving us some good support. Some sisters have also become our customers through Facebook.

AZ and I are now looking to bring in new abayas in time for Ramadan and Eid. We hope you would give us your support too.

In-Shaa-Allah.

Abayas, AZ And I

I now love wearing the abaya so much that all other wear that I fancied so much before don’t look as beautiful as they did to me before.

Yet this love didn’t just come at first sight. It was a love that came through much understanding and appreciation of what the abaya means to me as a Muslim woman.

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, to cover themselves with a loose garment; this will be more proper, that they may be recognised, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

The Holy Quran, Surah 33 Al-Ahzab, Verse 59

Of course, like in most aspects of my life after marriage, AZ showed me the way to accepting the abaya as part of my life.

I had many reservations at first and used to have to have many questions. I asked myself and I asked AZ too. “I am already wearing the hijab.” I thought. So, I am covered well enough, am I not? Thinking about it now, I do feel a little ashamed that I had some of these thoughts. One of the very silly arguments I had with AZ was that I loved salwar khameezs too much that I just couldn’t imagine wearing plain black abayas all the times.

But, at the back of my mind, I knew that I was never completely at ease when I wore these other traditional dresses too. I was always conscious of whether my tops were loose enough, or whether my pants were tight. Work clothes were seriously another challenge. Was I really covered enough? How many times have I decided to wear something on a morning and stood in the mirror wondering if I should change into another looser top?

And so I was staging a ‘I-am-not-so-ready’ front with AZ, which my dear husband patiently waited to wear off, while having faith in my imaan that I would willingly wear it very soon. He never once forced me on this, and yet spoke to me so very regularly on why I should change my wardrobe (needless to say, his first gift to me was an abaya, Alhamdhulilah).

Even in all these moments, I was already doing a lot of online research on the different types of abayas that I could wear to work, and the prices and places  we could buy them at. I didn’t tell AZ yet of course.

I am sure AZ made lots of duas that Allah (S.W.T) brings me closer to the abaya too. And I did too. And Allah (S.W.T) made me realise this soon too.

Alhamdhulilah. Today, these black beauties are the order and treasure of my wardrobe.

Source: Internet

This is a long overdue post, and as I write this and post this beautiful picture of this couple which to me is a reflection of our life – AZ and I – this is also a reflection of the love of both our parents’ love for their better halves.

And… so significantly, today is also my lovely parents’ wedding anniversary. Alhamdhulilah. May Allah (S.W.T) bless them with the same love and imaan till Jannah and in Jannah. Ameen.

If you are reading this, this is my humble request that you say a dua for my parents too. May Allah (S.W.T) reward you abundantly. Ameen.

HE Sent Us Barakah

Our family’s evening yesterday was spent beautifully, with barakah that our Rabb sent us. HIS barakah visited us through two heartwarming guests whom AZ and I had invited for dinner.

I have reminded myself to be more gracious and have sabr (patience) when I am now serving guests after I learnt on the hadith as said below of serving guests (even if they are people who may be mean to us).

“…when Allah wishes well for a qawm..." Here the word "qawm" does not mean "nation" or a group of people; it means few people or just one person. "...(Ehdâ ilayhim hediyyeted-dayf) Allah sends them guests as gifts." It is considered as gifts because when the host offers good things to the guest, he earns rewards and the blessings of Allah.

"If Allah wishes prosperity for a person, He will send guests as gifts."

Alhamdhulillah.

Our guests yesterday, Sister R and her fiancé (Brother Is), brought with them lots of warmth and laughter. Brother Is also took some time to take us through a water test (which I will write in more detail in a later post, In-Shaa-Allah). 

AZ and I have also long wanted to get a gift for Sister R. We decided on a pocket Quran for this Sister, as she is an entrepreneur who is always on the move and felt this will be very useful for her when on train rides. 

She was really pleased with this priceless gift (of all times!). I also told her that it was indeed a ‘selfish’ gift from both of us as we hoped to get some rewards when she recites the Quran, In-Shaa-Allah.

We also made her choose a pretty abaya that she fancied from our collections. She hesitantly did, and carried it so well when she tried it on. 

Alhamdhulilah.

Bismillah, In The Name Of Allah (S.W.T)

Assalamua'alaikum Warahmathulahi Wabarakathuhu,

May peace be upon you.

Writing has always been something that I love. A lot. I guess when you love books, reading, and books, the other love just tags along.

Maybe that is why Allah (S.W.T) has blessed with a career that is just that. Writing. Alhamdhulilah.

This blog is now in this space after much reflection and conversations, with Allah (S.W.T), myself and my dear husband.

And I do have some reasons. These are times when you turn to the Internet for a lot of answers, and with them, learning points. Of course, nothing beats searching for answers from people we know, we respect and trust. But they may not have all the answers. Nobody has, anyway.

Ever since I started reading blogs by other sisters, I have learnt so much useful, interesting and thought-provoking matters on Islam, as well as other stuff that will interest most women - raising kids; and yes, not forgetting tips for the home (especially the kitchen).

And there is also something really sweet about recording memories; be it in photos, journals, diaries, or anywhere else that makes the heart and soul happy.

I am not exactly a person who likes taking photos. But this is one of the things that my husband (whom I shall refer to as AZ from here) has changed about me. We really love photobooks now and also have a journal offline so that our children, In-Sha-Allah, will have a window into our lives before they came into this world. We hope to bind them into books every year. After all, a book will always be a book. There is no substitute for holding a book, flipping the pages, taking in that scent and feeling it. Literally.

So why this blog then?

In-Sha-Allah, this space will enable me to pen my journey as I yearn and learn to become a better Muslimah.

 I hope to share positivity, and save the 'low' moments for our personal journal.

I am still learning and can never assume the responsibility of the dawah that other sisters' whose blogs I have benefitted from, Subhanallah. May Allah (S.W.T) reward them abundantly. Ameen.

Source: Internet