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More Muslim Girl Names

We’ve already the discussed the importance of having a good Muslim name. It is not a particular language that makes a Muslim name; rather it is the meaning. Whether your name is English, Chinese, or Arabic, if it has an honorable meaning, it is a beautifully Islamic name! However, since most people are unaware of traditional “Islamic names” those are the ones I will focus on. I covered girl names from A – L in another blog. Here are some names for the rest of the alphabet: [h]”M” Names[/h] Maisa – A proud walk Majeeda – Glorious Manaar – Lighthouse … Continue reading →

More about Halal Meat

When I discussed halal meat, I left out one very important part: the animal must be slaughtered in the name of Allah. Prior to the slaughter, these words should be said, “Bismillah. Allahu Akbar.” This means, “In the name of Allah. Allah is the Greatest.” These words are said to acknowledge the fact that Allah has given us the gift of food. Allah created the cow, goat, lamb, and chickens as food. We are given the task of taking good care of the animals, treating them humanely, and meeting their basic needs. Even on the day of their slaughter, we … Continue reading →

When I Became a Muslim

So, how does a typical Southern girl come to be Muslim? It’s not a very exciting story, but I’ll share it… I was born and raised in Texas. We were Christian in name, but that was about the extent of it. Growing up, I was in and out of various churches of differing faiths– Baptist, Methodist, non-denominational. We would stay at a church for a while, attending with zeal. Then, my dad would decide that the church didn’t have “spirit,” it wasn’t “alive,” and we would leave. This was in between bouts of raging against all religion. Needless to say, … Continue reading →

Names for Muslim Boys

Whether you are a Muslim convert interested in changing your name or a parent expecting a baby, you may be curious about names for Muslim males. Here are some Muslim boy names and their meanings: [h]”A” Names[/h] Abbas – Lion Abdullah – Servant of Allah Adam – Black Ahmed – Worthy of praise Ali – Noble Ameer – Prince Anees – Good friend Ashraf – Honorable Asif – Forgiveness [h]”B” Names[/h] Basel – Brave Bassim – Smiling Bilal – Person who calls the prayer [h]”F” Names[/h] Fadi – Redeemer Faisal – Decisive Fareed – Unique Farris – Knight Fuad – … Continue reading →

Five Pillars of Islam

If you’ve ever spent any time around Muslims at all, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are the basic things that all Muslims must do. It is not an all-inclusive list; it is merely the minimum. Following this list is not a guaranteed entry to Jannah (heaven), but it is a great start. So, what’s on the list? [h]Declaration[/h] The first pillar is the declaration. Known as shahadah, this is the first step a person takes as a Muslim. Once a person has studied Islam and believes in their heart that Islam is truly the word … Continue reading →

Can Muslims be Vegetarians?

When I first told my husband that I had decided to become a vegetarian, his reaction was a strong one. “No!” he said. “Allah gave us animals to eat, so we must eat them.” When I discussed it with other Muslims, I heard similar answers: “Haram!” “We cannot make haram (forbidden) what Allah has made halal (lawful).” “We cannot imitate non-Muslims.” Being a stubborn sort, I researched the issue myself. I find many surahs and hadiths related to food. All of the rulings were focused on what we cannot eat: food that was not slaughtered in a halal way, alcohol, … Continue reading →

Dealing with Anger– the Islamic Way

We all experience anger from time to time. Maybe your spouse did something to upset you… the children are misbehaving… someone cut you off in traffic… your boss is being unreasonable. We share this world with many people of many different personalities. It is inevitable that we will feel anger or frustration from time to time. While the feelings are inevitable, angry reactions are not. In fact, the teachings of Islam are very clear on this: it is haram (forbidden) to lash out in anger. The Koran says: “O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who … Continue reading →

Islamic Dress Code — Why Does She Dress Like That?

So many people see a Muslim woman dressed in head to toe and think, “Oppressed! He’s forcing her to dress like that.” “He” refers, of course, to her dictator of a husband. After all, no woman would shun mini skirts, tank tops, and shorts of her own free will. No thinking woman would wear long sleeves and pants in the heat of summer. If a woman is dressed like that she is obviously either brainwashed or beaten. Right? Wrong. I am an American, born and raised in a free country. Growing up, I was encouraged to wear make-up and dress … Continue reading →

Assalamu Alaikoum — What Does that Mean?

Assalamu Alaikoum. If you’ve ever spent any time at all around Muslims, you’ve no doubt heard those words. Although they sound a bit like mumbo jumbo to an American ear, the words actually have a beautiful meaning. “Assalamu alaikoum” is an Arabic phrase that literally means, “peace be with you.” “Assalamu alaikoum” is a Muslim greeting. Muslims of all nationalities, whether they speak Arabic or not, say “Assalamu alaikoum” when they meet and again when they depart. It is a way of showing respect to a Muslim brother or sister and of wishing them well. The response is, “Wa alaikoum … Continue reading →