Title: Qur'an: English Translation

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Just got back from visiting my sister... had a blast with the kiddies.
Managed to crochet my nephew a skull cap (kufi)...and I have plans on making a soccer themed one!! Will post if that ever works out :D



Also made a monster with my niece.



Title: Paper Toy Monsters
Found: Amazon.ca

What it's about: It's approximately 200 pages. The left page has a little 'story' about the monster, the right page has the monster dye-cut. You punch out the monster, glue the tabs and put that thing together.
They are about 50 monsters, and 10 blanks which you get to design yourself. Each monster is set for a different level (ex. easy, intermediate, etc.)

My thoughts: Love the book!! I totally dig the little monster stories (and all three kids enjoyed listening to me read them). I think the idea is very creative, and the monsters ARE infact fun to put together. They are also all different, so there is something for everyone.

Highly recommend it for all ages. I helped my 4 year niece (she did all the folding and gluing). Once done she ran to get jewel stickers and personalized it a little more!

Note: we used a good glue-stick and had absolutely NO problems. And I had no problems punching out the pieces.

Labels: crochet, review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Oh I know, I know.. it's been sooooo long since I've posted. I'm sorry people, I've just been really busy with so many things - some more interesting than others. One of them is working on this children's book.

AlhumduliLlah it's complete and I had a blast working on all the characters. Now I have another two lined up to work on, insha'Allah that goes well.

I really love working on children book illustrations rather than brochures and flyers (don't tell my clients that..haha)

Labels: art, review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Just a quick update on the mural. I've started painting... but it's been a slow process with everything else I'm working around.



I am having a blast painting it! Makes me feel like a little kid again!


Recently I read Acrylic Secrets by Gill Barron. It's got a lot of great tips and techniques in that have been helpful in this project. Check it out if you have some time.


My GoodReads review on it:
Excellent book! I've been painting for years (on and off) but still consider myself a novice, so I've benefited greatly going through this book. I'm working on a mural now and have already used some of the tips mentioned.

There is enough info to have you start (right from choosing the subject) and complete a painting without having to learn the hard way - i.e. avoiding errors and learning short cuts (or easier methods)

I'd definitely recommend it to anyone new to acrylics
5 stars

Labels: art, review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

I have been reading..but unfortunately haven't been posting any reviews, sorry. Here is my latest reads... which I'm very happy to share with you.


Title: The Adventures of the Salamander (Volume 1)
Author: Michael Klaus Schmidt
Available: Amazon (Kindle version here: Amazon)
Type: Children (ages 3 and up)

What is it about? The adventure of Slippy the salamander on a quest to save his village from the horrible lizards.

Is it worth reading? Definitely. I thoroughly enjoyed the story... and really want to know what happens in the end!

Is the book easy to understand? Yes. I'm just amazed at how many children's books I read that are NOT written for children. This one is excellent.
Added bonus is: each image has a snip of the story (telling a complete story by itself) .. this is great for younger children. I read this to my 3 year old niece who couldn't get enough of it. She's still talking about salamanders and thinks it's "disgusting to eat worm doodles" ..haha. 

Art work? I've known Michael for his work as an artist, so to see both his art and writing come together is incredible. The detail in the pictures are wonderful as well as the maps. - you know it's a real adventure when there are maps!

Notable pages? Well, not notable as such but I love the creativity behind the story (i.e: Mushroom houses, Bobcats that like cheese, etc.)

Recommended age? 3 and up. I would think a 7-8 year old (and older) could read this by themselves and enjoy it... (i.e: more like chapter books for them)

Out of 5: 5


I would love to hear what you thought of the book... or even what you are reading at the moment.

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Earlier I mentioned I was working on a crochet project... here it is!
They turned out better than I expected, alhumduliLlah and I had a blast making them.
I'm still not sure whether to sell them or keep them for my niece.







Believe it or not, I got some direction from this book: Creepy Cute Crochet.
Book review:

Labels: crochet, review

Title: The Road To Mecca

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Another remarkable book I'd like to share with you!



Title: The Gift of Rain
Author: Tan Twan Eng
Available: Amazon
Type: Historical Fiction

What's it about? It takes place in Malaysia (during the Second World War). Philip feels as an outsider being half-British and half-Chinese until he meets Endo-san (a Japanese ambassador). Endo-san offers to be his sensei... and well, things don't turn out so clear cut..

Is it worth reading? I sure think so. Some might not feel the same, but I loved the history (some fictional), the Japanese and Chinese culture brought together, the story line, and the way it was written.

Is the book easy to understand? It's a long read, but easy to follow, and my favourite part is how Tan Twan Eng described everything.. almost poetic.

Notable pages? I can't narrow it down.. and some will just give away the story.

Out of 5: 5

Let me know what you think!

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuh

Now this is a book everyone should read! Really.. I can't stress that enough.. and I don't mean you should read because it's so good, but because as a Muslim you should be well versed in its contents; it could make the difference between true belief in Allah and disbelief.

Something to think about, "Thus, it is the duty of every sincere believer in God to put aside his or her cultural experiences and emotional ties to family, tribe or nation, and acquire a working knowledge of Tawhid, the foundation of faith. For it is only in the application of that knowledge that man may achieve salvation."




Title: The Fundamentals of Tawheed
Author: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Available: IIPH
Ebook: PDF file

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? Definitely! It's very well written, short but very concise.

Does the author use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Yes, throughout the book. And this is one of the few books I've come across that are so well sourced. The Qur'anic text is in both Arabic and English, with where you can find each verse. Ahadith all have footnotes on who it's narrated by, and who it's collected by, as well as if it's weak, etc.

Is the book easy to understand? I was very impressed with how easy it was to understand because of the nature of the topic(s), like those directly related to Allah.

Notable pages? Abu Musa (radiAllahu anhu) said:

"One day Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wa-salaam) delivered a sermon, saying, 'O' people, fear shirk for it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant.' Those whom Allah wished asked, 'And how do we avoid it when it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant, O' Messenger of Allah?' He (salAllahu alayhi wa-salaam) replied,

'Say:'Allahumma inna na'oodhu bika an nushrika shay'an na'lamuh, wa nastaghfiruka lima la na'lamuh.' (O' Allah, we seek refuge in You from knowingly committing shirk with You, and we ask Your forgiveness for what we do not know about)." [Ahmad]

Extra: AlhumduliLlah, I was able to skim through Kitaab At-Tawheed (by Shaikh Abdul-Wahhaab) with Shaykh Feiz, and found it very beneficial. You can catch the recorded lectures here:
Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8

Out of 5: Definitely 5 and above. AlhumduliLlah, another book I'm happy I read, and regret not reading earlier in life.

Alright, you know the drill people.. let me know what you think? Did you find it as easy to understand? Has anyone read Kitaab At-Tawheed (by Shaikh Abdul-Wahhaab)?...how does it compare?

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

AlhumduliLlah, this Eid I received something special.. a book! Books are special.. aren't they? Although I don't really like to read fictional* books, because I feel I'm wasting time if I can't get anything useful out of it.. this one is different. It's amazing yet depressing. Very depressing.. but I finished it with a heart of gratitude. Allah has made our life so easy, alhumduliLlah.



Title: The Book of Negroes (note: this books also goes under the name "Someone Knows My Name ")
Author: Lawrence Hill
Available: Amazon
Type: History (fictional)

What's it about? A little girl forced into slavery... (that's all I'm saying)

Is it worth reading? Definitely! It's so well written, you wouldn't put it down until it's done. Not everything in this book is fictional. The 'Book of Negroes' unfortunately really does exist, and so does a lot of the other information.

Is the book easy to understand? Yes, yes, very easy to understand.. the history isn't that deep that you'll get lost, but enough to understand what's going on. Whether you care to know a little about slavery or not, do yourself a favour and read it.

Notable pages? Not really, but there isn't a single page you'll get bored reading.
I was however drawn to this sentence: "I wondered for a time how a person who considered himself a good Muslim could treat other humans in such a way, but it occurred to me that the same question could be asked of Christians and Jews." [pg. 434] - maybe because it's something I wonder about as well.

Out of 5: 5 most definitely!

I'd love to hear what others think about it. And if you've read any other books written by Lawrence Hill.

Note: * I have absolutely no problem with fictional work (I still read it).

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

..'cause every little thing is gonna be alright. Rise up this mornin'... okay I'll stop.

Before I introduce this wonderful book.. take note, you do not need to be in a state of sadness to read it.. it's filled with much more, three little birds scattered about.

Personally, I'm still in awe at how Allah used this book to help me. There were times I put it down, only to find that the next time I picked it up to read, it applied to the circumstances in my life, right at that very moment, alhumduliLlah. I made better decisions because of it.. much better, ones I could have regretted. Now I know.. it may not touch others in the same way, but it does have information that we could all use (even if we claim to already know it).



Title: Don't Be Sad
Author: 'Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Available: IIPH
Ebook: PDF file

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? A mixture. Well.. I found a lot of things I already know, but whether I had actually reflected upon it and I applied it to my life is a different story. AlhumduliLlah, I don't know if it is the way the book is written, my circumstances, etc. but there was a lot to think about.

Does the author use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Lots, lots!.. as well as quotes from other people, poems, sayings, etc. Everything is clearly stated/sourced. I really liked how the Qur'anic verses were used. It makes you reflect upon them 'differently'. (ie: not with a different meaning - but in context, - more tafseer like.. does that make sense?)

Is the book easy to understand? Easy to understand. The author suggests not to read it all at one sitting, which I agree with. Chapters are short, but packed with valuable lessons. This makes a greatttt gift by the way!

Notable pages? With all the pages that made an impact, this one stood out the most:
"Allah's slaves are always swaying from the first state (losing all hope) to the second (having trust and hope in Allah). During the period of a single hour, one can have his share of both. So he obeys Allah and pleases Him, he remembers Him and thanks Him - and he is only able to do these through His help. Shortly afterwards, though, he disobeys Allah, goes against His commands, earns His anger, and is generally in a state of forgetfulness - all because Allah has left him to himself. Therefore Allah's slave is always oscillating between His divine care and between being forsaken.

Whenever one of Allah's slaves witnesses this phenomenon - that of changing from one state to the other - he should appreciate the dubious nature of his situation and his extreme need of being guided by Allah in every breath he breathes and in every moment he lives. His faith and belief are in Allah's hand. If Allah were to leave him alone for even the blinking of an eye, his faith would plunge to the ground. You should therefore realize that the One who is protecting your faith is the One Who is preventing the sky from falling to the earth." [pg. 233]

Extra: Video clip based on the book: Don't Be Sad

Out of 5: Definitely 5 and above. AlhumduliLlah, I'm so happy I read it.

I know there are a lot of people who have had the opportunity to read this book, I'd really like to hear what you thought. Has it made a difference in your life? Anything that stood out above the rest?

Labels: reflection, review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Subhan'Allah! My dear brothers and sisters, if I could buy this cd lecture series for each one of you, I would! But unfortunately Graphic Designers that slack can't afford it..haha, insha'Allah one day. Anyway.. it's that good! It costs a little over $60 but is well worth the money, in fact, it'll probably be one of the most valuable things you'll buy.


CD Lecture Title: Lives of the Prophets
Speaker: Imam Anwar al-Awlaki
Publisher: Al-Basheer publications
Available: Islamic Bookstore

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? It doesn't matter how many times you have read the Qur'an (in a translation you understand) or tafseers, you'll learn something new from this, insha'Allah.

Does the speaker use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Both Qur'an and hadith are used, including other sources. Every source is stated and clearly explained.

Is the information easy to understand? Absolutely! Easy to understand, and information is conveyed in such an organized manner, you're thoughts stay on track.

Notable topics? I think the 'lessons' taught throughout the series. While explaining the life of each Prophet, Imam Anwar points out how the lessons they learned, or trials they went through can be applied to our life right now! And isn't that what the Qur'an is all about.. for us to learn from it!

Out of 5: Way more than 5! 10 maybe!

Masha'Allah the Imam did such an amazing job. Please keep him and his family in your dua's.

Here is a lecture Trust In Allah by Imam Anwar al-Awlaki for you to check out, insha'Allah.

Let me know your thoughts on this cd series, or anything else you have heard/read by him.

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Another two brilliant books done, alhumduliLlah. I feel like I inhaled them *they are that interesting*! In total I learned about 60 companions of the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam). I found the books interesting, beneficial, extremely inspiring.. but at the same time sad. Yes..sad because of what the companions went through (may Allah have mercy on them), insha'Allah their reward is with Allah for their struggle. But more-so a realization of how far we have strayed. How we have muddled our priorities.. we are so busy trying to make something of this world.. that our permanent abode just kind of fades into the background, unlike the life of the companions.



Title: Companions of the Prophet
Author: Abdul Wahid Hamid
Available: MELS

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? Actually I did! From little bits of information about companions we are familiar with to companions we have never heard about, or rarely hear about. Example, the first Muslim to ever enter Makkah reciting the talbiyah, who pledged allegiance to the Prophet as a small child, what advice did Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah give before he passed away, who learned to write Hebrew and Syriac in order to help communicate with others,...

Does the Imam use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Yes.. naturally. I also found it so great to read about what was happening when a certain ayah or hadith was revealed.

Is the book easy to understand? Extremely easy to follow, and would be great for younger readers as well.

Notable pages? Every page. I personally love that when I come across any hadith now, I know a little about the narrator.

Out of 5: I rate both books 5.

It would be nice to hear from others who have read these books, what you thought of it, if you have a favourite story in it, or if you recommend any other books about the companions.

Labels: review