What is the true essence of hijab? There is a lot of controversy surrounding the true essence of the hijab, especially when you consider the way non-Muslims and the media like to portray the hijab. At best, people say it’s a fashion statement, and at worst, a symbol of oppression and backwardness. I’m willing to […]
Anyone that knows me knows that I live a double life. A triple life in fact. By day I’m a management consultant at one of the Big Four consulting firms with some of the largest global financial institutions as my clients, and by night I am social entrepreneur juggling a women’s network with a start-up […]
Salam alaikum dear Umm Fariha Family! I’m so pleased to announce that all the balls are in motion for our very first event, THE ESSENCE FAMILY AND MODEST FASHION FAIR, taking place on SATURDAY 16TH AND SUNDAY 17TH OF JANUARY inshaAllah, at THE LEKKI CENTRAL MOSQUE. We are bringing you two days packed full of […]
Finding time to write these past few weeks has been near impossible… finding time to just stop, and reflect and download all my worries, my anxiety, all my hopes and aspirations… all these emotions bottled up inside me… It’s really been a rollercoaster but what has always kept me sane is reverting back to my […]
* Drum roll please*We’ve kept you in suspense long enough! Are you an up and coming Modest Fashion Designer based in Nigeria?Would you like to showcase your work at The Essence Family & Fashion Fair?We will be selecting 10 talented designers to compete for the crown of The Essence Designer of the Year 2016!Here’s how […]
“So trust Allah, surely you are on the clear path” Q27:79 Something I’ve learnt time and time again is that by trusting in Allah and putting all you do in His hands, you’ll never go wrong. Many of you would have noticed that it’s been quiet over at the Umm Fariha page, and on the […]
Anxiety from the Islamic and Personal perspective of a young woman. “I’m scared to laugh, it might be too loud,” “The chances of the car crashing is high, I’m staying in,” “Something bad has to happen, it’s been almost a day,” “My chest hurts and I might cry, I don’t even know why,” “I died in […]
From the age of 17, and for about 5 years, I always felt internally saddened. Something happened in my life which caused me to be angry and sad. I was never clinically diagnosed with depression, nor do I believe that I had severe depression; but I was never happy, I never felt loved, and at […]
This is something I’ve written about before but I find is always a good reminder to myself… we complain a lot when things go wrong but forget to acknowledge our seemingly minor achievements and successes… It’s so important to celebrate oneself and give ourself a pat on the back from now and again… Alhamdulillah, today […]
It’s 18.02 at Moorgate station, sitting on the 18.03 train to Hertford North… The train siren rings and we are in motion…. With the humming of the train engine, and the jerking and swaying, I sit and reflect on the last 29 days. .. Ramadan 2015 is coming to a close, subhanallah… I take a […]
