For the love of the Prophet ﷺ and the city that welcomed him – Al-Madina Al-Munawwara
I am blessed to be writing this post inside The Prophet’s Mosque in Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia, as I await my turn to visit Al-Rawda Al-Shareefa, which is cited in a Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ as being, a part of heaven on Earth. It’s right there, where the Prophet ﷺ had …
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Javier- the spiritual stone craftsman
I’ve loved the Out of the Box market, ever since it first came to the large lawn right outside my home in Dubai one season. It carried all these craft items and clothes that are inspired by Arab and Muslim gems. This year was extra special to me as I …
Continue ReadingExploring Lakemba – A Muslim neighborhood in Sydney, Australia
In this post, I am taking you along on another walk, and this time we will find our way through the Muslim neighborhood of Lakemba in Western Sydney, which is one of Sydney’s most multicultural areas. It was a delight to be told about and shown its gems by the same …
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A state of being – Australia and New Zealand
This post is about a way of being. In Islam one is born into, and is meant to return to, and maintain throughout life; the primordial state which is known in Arabic as “fitra”. When one is connected to Divine Truth, one is in a state of fitra. It is …
Continue ReadingEgypt’s musical legacy lives on- Joseph and James Tawadros
This post is a series of seemingly unfortunate events that turned into a wonderful tale of discovery and a story that tickles me every time I think of it. Recreate the atmosphere of this wonderful duet by playing the selection of music below as you read. It all started when a dear …
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Menn Baladha- a modern twist on age-old crafts
I love nature and from it, I derive many other loves. I love anything that reminds me of it or brings me closer to it, especially natural materials. What’s not to love about this Divine life-affirming healing art and life source that surrounds us! One of my favourite natural materials, …
Continue ReadingA special bookshop in Paris – Avicenna Librarie
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been researching three different posts and I couldn’t quite decide which one to write first. When I woke up this morning, I was given a clear sign that the story I should tell was that of the Avicenna Librarie, an Arabic bookshop …
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A taste of Tunis – Le Comptoir de Tunisie
This gem starts between the pages of a guide book called L’Orient a Paris. I got it to expand my list of Arab establishments throughout Paris and was delighted to learn about a Tunisian restaurant, walking distance from the Louvre. The Louvre’s magnificent and relatively new Islamic department is one …
Continue ReadingA secret garden- La Mosquee Salon Du The
One of my favorite cafes in the world to sit in and while away hours reading and day-dreaming lies steps away from “la Grande Mosquee de Paris”. You walk through the doors into a secret garden generously shaded by an olive and a fig tree. I remember how my heart …
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Lessons from Cuba with love
Cuba has long been on my wish list of places to visit. It’s the kind of place that you know can change you with its uncommon history and colorful culture. For better or worse, we live in a world and age where city life has a sameness and super fast …
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