Tag: muslimah

  • Noor Mastura: My Relationship With The Hijab Strengthened Because My Mother Did Not Force It Upon Me

    Noor Mastura: My Relationship With The Hijab Strengthened Because My Mother Did Not Force It Upon Me

    I remember the first week I started wearing the hejab. I was ready to take it off by the second week. My friends laughed at me. Mind you, they were Muslim.
    My friends who weren’t Muslims however – were incredibly supportive. Yes you Sumalatha Navan .

    My mum was the happiest when I wore it. My sisters followed immediately and wore it too. So when I came back home one day and plopped myself at the dining table and blurted out to mum that I didn’t want to wear the hejab anymore, I anticipated drama and was so ready to rebut with a host of carefully constructed responses.

    Mum was cooking but when the bomb dropped, she didn’t flinch. And without hesitation she said, okay. And I thought it was one of those ‘Mum-okays’ – you know that one – “okay fine, but don’t ever come back to this house again”
    But no – she actually meant – okay.

    And I said “Mum, I’m really going to take it off.” She stopped stirring the ladle, looked at me straight on and asked “Did I ask you to put it on?”
    “No”
    “Why did you put it on?”
    “Because I wanted to at that time”
    “And why do you want to take it off now?”
    “Because I don’t feel right. ”

    And she said the magic words I’ll always thank her for.
    “It was your decision then, it is your decision now.”

    But I still felt that she didn’t get it. She didn’t think i would actually take it off. We were meeting her friend at a mall that afternoon so she took off first and i told her I’ll drop by after.

    I left home without the hejab. When I saw her and her friend, she looked at me as if nothing happened. It was so weird for me. Mum was actually okay with this????

    She sat and talked and laughed and ate like everything was alright and nothing was amiss. We left and went to the station to catch a bus home. While waiting, mum and I took selfies together and she was happily smiling and holding me and hugging me like I didn’t let her down.

    Even till this day, i don’t know if I did.

    But I’ll tell you what I know. I lasted 3 days without the hejab. I made my decision and I’ve never looked back. Today, I’m as comfortable as I am with it or without it. And it is my sacred companion.

    If my mum reacted otherwise – I honestly don’t know the kind of relationship I’d be having with my hejab. If any.
    But this gratitude that comes with the freedom to choose – either way- is priceless.

    And one can only hope that through this process, we are blessed with the likes of my mum, my friend and this dad right here. (See link for story)

     

    Source: Noor Mastura

  • Nura J Buka Salon Muslimah Pertama Di Orchard Rd, Mahu Dampingi Pelanggan Luar Negara

    Nura J Buka Salon Muslimah Pertama Di Orchard Rd, Mahu Dampingi Pelanggan Luar Negara

    Niat awalnya untuk mengisi jurang dalam pasaran jagaan rambut muslimah ternyata berjaya dilaksanakan. Namun kini, beliau maju lagi setapak dengan menawarkan khidmatnya di kawasan utama Singapura pula.

    Malah, buat julung-julung kalinya, beliau memberi nafas baru dan berhasil membuka salon Muslimah yang pertama di kawasan Orchard Road!

    Pemilik salon muslimah terkenal Pearlista dan juga personaliti tempatan, Nura J, bahkan mengorak langkah berani dengan membuka cawangan ketiganya itu di kawasan bandar tersebut.

    Nura J memberitahu BERITAMediacorp: “Idea itu tercetus sekitar dua bulan lalu selepas saya selesai makan malam bersama suami di Far East Plaza. Kami sudah merancang untuk membuka cawangan ketiga, tetapi pada awalnya tidak begitu pasti tentang lokasinya.

    “Bagaimanapun, setelah melihat banyak salon rambut biasa yang dapat bertahan, kami berpendapat salon muslimah kami juga mungkin dapat berkembang maju di sana.”

    BERPOTENSI DAMPINGI SEGMEN PASARAN BERBEZA

    Terletak di Far East Plaza, Nura J malah merasakan bahawa cawangan tersebut dapat mendampingi segmen pasaran yang berbeza selain menyasarkan kepada mereka yang tinggal di bahagian tengah Singapura.

    Ini memandangkan pusat beli-belah itu terletak berhampiran dengan Hotel Grand Hyatt dan Royal Plaza on Scotts.

    “Cawangan Pearlista Orchard mungkin berhadapan dengan sasaran pelanggan yang berbeza. Malah kini, ia mungkin dapat mendampingi para pengunjung dari Brunei, Indonesia dan Malaysia yang menginap di hotel-hotel yang berdekatan. Dan tentunya, peluang ini tidak akan disia-siakan,” kata Nura J.

    Meskipun begitu, beliau bertekad untuk tidak memberikan kelebihan ketara kepada cawangan terbarunya itu, berbanding dengan cawangannya di kawasan kejiranan.

    Menurutnya, ini agar beliau dapat mengekalkan tahap konsisten bagi khidmat salonnya di kesemua cawangan yang disediakan.

    “Kami tidak boleh mempunyai pemikiran bahawa, hanya kerana ia terletak di Orchard, ia harus diberikan keutamaan atau kelebihan tambahan. Malah, kami harus memastikan khidmat kami diselaraskan di kesemua cawangan agar tidak menjejas mutu yang ditawarkan kepada pelanggan tetap di cawangan-cawangan lain,” katanya kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Pertama kali dilancarkan pada hujung tahun 2014, Pearlista kini sudahpun berjaya membuka tiga cawangan dalam masa kurang tiga tahun, selain giat menjalankan operasi di cawangan Icon@Changi di Eunos dan CityVibe di Clementi.

    GENERASI ‘M’ PACU PENGEMBANGAN PASARAN MUSLIMAH

    Nura J, yang juga berkhidmat sebagai seorang ejen hartanah, bahkan menjangkakan pasaran jagaan rambut muslimah akan terus berkembang pada masa hadapan.

    “Kaum muslimah kini datang dari Generasi M (“money”), yang mampu dan lebih rela untuk berbelanja. Selain memastikan khidmat yang diberikan haruslah bermutu tinggi, kami juga harus menyerlah dan mencari tukikan sendiri, seperti khidmat ‘Creambath’ kami,” katanya.

    “Bagaimanapun, kami tetap memberi tumpuan khusus kepada masalah rambut sebenar seperti keguguran rambut dan kelemumur, dan berhasrat membantu kaum muslimah menyelesaikan masalah tersebut,” tambah Nura lagi.

    Meskipun begitu, Pearlista masih harus tetap mengikut arus trend gaya rambut dan rawatan yang terkini, selain sering menghantar pasukan pendandan rambutnya ke kursus-kursus bersama rakan syarikat rasmi, Wella Academy, menurutnya.

    “Peluang untuk bertemu dengan wanita dari segenap bidang pekerjaan, dan bagi mereka untuk terus menyokong dan kembali semula, ia sesuatu yang sangat saya hargai. Setiap maklum balas yang diterima juga membuat kami merasakan bahawa ia suatu pekerjaan yang mulia juga,” katanya.

    (Gambar-gambar: Nura J/ Instagram)

    PESAING PEARLISTA ADALAH… DIRINYA SENDIRI

    Dengan bertambahnya perniagaan salon muslimah di negara ini, Nura J juga merasakan bahawa pesaing terhebat Pearlista adalah, Pearlista sendiri.

    “Saya sudah lama bekerja sendiri dan saya percaya pada etika bisnes. Jika kita menjejas perniagaan orang lain, kita seperti tidak percaya pada rancanganNya.

    “Pesaing Pearlista adalah dirinya sendiri, kerana jika kita sering melihat kepada pesaing lain, kita mungkin akan menjejas kebolehan sendiri. Malah, kita seharusnya berkongsi kegembiraan bersama-sama dan mendakapi persaingan dalam bidang ini,” kata Nura, berkongsi sekelumit falsafah perniagaannya kepada BERITAMediacorp.

    Salah satu cara untuk terus menarik perhatian golongan muda, menurut Nura, adalah untuk mengekalkan sistem online yang cekap. Bahkan, Pearlista juga giat menghasilkan produk rambut jenama sendiri sebagai sebahagian daripada rancangannya untuk memperluaskan perniagaannya.

    “Harapan saya adalah agar Pearlista akan terus bersinar, berkembang maju melalui produk dan cawangan barunya serta dapat terus memberi peluang pekerjaan kepada golongan gadis yang membantu membangunkan jenama Pearlista,” katanya.

    Pearlista Orchard di Far East Plaza mula beroperasi hari ini (2 Mei) dan tempahan boleh dibuat melalui lamannya atau aplikasi Booksy.

    Pelancaran rasmi Pearlista Orchard dijangka diadakan menjelang hujung bulan Mei.

     

    Rilek1Corner

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg/

  • Cosplay In Hijab? No Problem

    Cosplay In Hijab? No Problem

    KUALA LUMPUR • Muslim women dressed as superheroes, princesses and mighty sword-wielding warriors took part in a hijab cosplay event over the weekend in Malaysia, where the role-playing craze continues to grow.

    About 20 women showcased their love for anime with elaborate make-up and costumes while still wearing the traditional hijab – the headscarf worn by many Muslim women in Malaysia – at the event in a mall on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

    Ms Nur Azlina, a 21-year-old university student, was decked out in a Power Rangers outfit.

    She said a hijab does not hinder her cosplay skills and that there were a lot of positive reactions.

    “Some people are sometimes surprised when they see my hijab… but it doesn’t bother me. My friends and family support me and I also get invited to attend birthday parties with my costume,” she added.

    Mr Raja Muhammad Rusydi, a 20-year-old cosplay enthusiast, hopes such events will generate more interest among hijab-wearing women to take part in cosplay activities.

    “I love cosplay and I get to make new friends here and in the international cosplay community. I support the women. If they love the character and have the passion, they should do it.”

    In cosplay, short for costume role-play, enthusiasts gather to imitate characters from anime series, comics and video games, many drawn from Japanese pop culture.

    The cosplay fad has swept much of the world and has been popular for more than two decades in Malaysia.

    But hijab cosplay has become popular only in the last few years in the South-east Asian nation and has generated much buzz among those in the cosplay scene.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Singapore Is First World Country With Third World Hijab Policy

    Singapore Is First World Country With Third World Hijab Policy

    “Focus on unity, not division”: Minister Masagos Zulkifli

    “Allowing hijab problematic for some jobs”: Minister Yaacob Ibrahim

    Please tell me are there any DIVISION caused or PROBLEMATIC issues found in these photos? Or in their respective countries?

     

    Source: Syed Mahdzar Al-Shahab

     

  • How A Chance Meeting While Queuing For Beer Set Penniless Minah Rocker On The Path To Allah

    How A Chance Meeting While Queuing For Beer Set Penniless Minah Rocker On The Path To Allah

    Last Saturday night, I was at 7-11 buying mineral water while i was having dinner with my sisters. There was this young Malay girl queuing in front of me. She was really a rocker with her short torn jeans. When it was her turn, she didnt realize she did not have enough cash to pay for her cigarette and liquour. Her hp battery was flat. She lost her ATM card. The cashier was really making lots of noise. Its almost turning into an ugly scene. So I step up to pay for the amount she needed. She was so shocked to hear I am willing to pay. She turned to me saying “Abg ni benda haram saya beli. I replied: I give you the money because you need the money. Whatever you do with the money, is between you and Allah, none of my business. She was taken back. She remained in silence for a while. I told the cashier to calm down. I know the queue is getting longer but just be nice and patient with her. I said she is going through tough times right now. All of us go through such moments in our life. Just be good to others.

    Out of a sudden, she changed her mind. She said I am gonna only buy cigarette. I dont want the liquor. I was like ok. I thought she left for good or maybe she was embarrassed by what happened she did not want to buy the liquor. When I exit the store, she was outside waiting for me. She was smoking gently, her eyes was like about to shed some tears. I smiled and said to her “Are you ok? You need help? You need money? You are in trouble? I continue : I gotta go back to the food place where my wife and sisters are waiting. She was just walking beside me saying “You know what Abg, maybe sometimes, we are looking for miracles but Allah is kind to give us an ease when we meet some strangers . I replied to her, that is how Islam started “As strangers”. It grew because the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam build the community for everyone to know each other in loving and taking care of each other.

    As we reach the gate of masjid sultan, she raise her hands in saying “Allah always listen to our prayers but it is our expectation is making us disappointed with ourselves. O Allah today I learn you are so kind, generous, etc I am so poor yet YOU enriched with YOUR guidance and hope in my soul.

    This morning, she msg me saying “The first time I did solat tawbah as how you had taught me, free my mind, my heart and my life, I was release from the prison of the self. it was really out of this world. Fajr was just another day when the sun rise, we said Alhamdulilah, Allah is there to take care of us.

     

    Source: Khalid Ajmain

    *Editor’s Note: Picture, from Says.com, is strictly for illustration purposes.