Umm Salihah ( Deputy editor)
Hi, I’m Umm Salihah and I am mum to three dirty-faced angels (Little Lady - 7, Little Man - 5, Gorgeous - 3 years). I write for www.happymuslimah.com which I began in order to share my experiences as a Muslimah working mother and to learn from other sisters about how they manage the different aspects of their lives without compromising their faith. I also blog at www.positivemuslimah.com because I believe we need to share more of our positive stories.
I read Psychology at university and then went on to work for the public sector for the next 10 years, first in central government and now in local government because I wanted to contribute to the community I had grown up in insh’Allah. My passions include crafts (cards, banners and jewellery), books, bargain-hunting, writing, dawah and the English countryside.
You can contact me at umm_salihah@yahoo.co.uk
Dealing with Gender Prejudice as a Mother
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
I grew up in a loving home, but one that did not escape the South-Asian cultural preference for boys. As one of four sisters to a lone brother, this did none of us any favours.
0 comments
Getting your Groove Back Post-Pregnancy
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
I remember during my first pregnancy that despite the glowing skin and thicker hair, I couldn’t wait to have the baby and then get back to my size eight dress size again.
0 comments
Miscarriage Before and After Having Other Children
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
As a young woman you have so many dreams and expectations. Your life is mapped out and you believe there is a set way of doing things: college, Mr Right, marriage, babies. So what do you do when things don’t work out as you expected?
0 comments
Lessons from Motherhood
Wed, Jun 22, 2011
Your priorities change, sometimes radically. My ambition to get to the top and prove myself has been replaced by a desire to do things that I enjoy and that are meaningful to me. I care less what others think and more about the effect of what I do on my children, the legacy that I will leave behind and the importance of my actions in the longer scheme of things.
0 comments
Pilau Rice
Sun, Jun 26, 2011
This is one of the first things that my mum taught me to cook. Rice is not as central to the Punjabi diet as it is to the Bengali or South Indian one, being as it is, largely based around wheat (in the form of chapatti’s with each meal). This is mainly because Punjab is farmland and focuses on grains. This being the case, rice tends to be reserved more for guests and celebrations.
0 comments
Book Review: Sue Palmer – Toxic Childhood
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
When we imagine how we are going to raise our children, we think of healthy, happy, well-behaved children, which of course do not exhibit any of the bad behaviour and habits every other child seems to be prone to.
0 comments
Frugal fun family days out
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
During school holidays and on weekends there is one dreaded phrase that is heard in most homes: “I’m boooored!!”. Usually I answer with “Only boring people get bored, how can you be bored?” but really, that doesn’t get you very far.
0 comments
Book review: 'Shame' by Jasvinder Sanghera
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
Jasvinder Sanghera is the founder of Karma Nirvana, a charity that supports South Asian women suffering from domestic abuse and honour-based violence. This book details her own story and what led to her drive to set up a charity for Asian women in particular.
0 comments
Working Mother Column: Prioritising during Ramadan
Thu, Jul 28, 2011
As Ramadan fast approaches, my attention is turning to how I can strike a balance between work, family, housework, taking care of myself and at the same time trying to get the maximum benefit out of this blessed month.
0 comments
Experience and Confidence as a Muslimah Working Mother
Thu, Sep 29, 2011
As a Muslim and as a working parent, there are a number of challenges that one is likely to face. These can include colleagues’ attitudes towards modest dress or hijab, prayer during work hours, juggling your child’s needs with work demands, worries about how you are negatively perceived by your employers on one hand and teachers and other mothers on the other hand.
0 comments
The Importance of Faith in Raising our Children
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
I have lost count of the number of times I have been told by people that I am too strict, that I am too religious, that my children will dress modestly or pray when they are older.It’s a little disheartening that you try your best, which still leaves a lot to be desired and you are still discouraged in your efforts.
0 comments
Finding your Spouse
Thu, Dec 01, 2011
I attended Sheikh Alaa Elsayed’s seminar on marriage last week and it gave me lots of food for thought. The seminar was engaging and very funny and I came away with some clear information. The seminar listed things that men and women should look for in a spouse and what things they can do to help them make a decision once they have met someone.
0 comments
Working Muslimah Column: Managing Your Career?
Fri, Dec 02, 2011
Last weekend I attended the Twins of Faith conference organised by Mercy Mission. It was an interesting, inspiring and exhausting day. One of the seminars I attended was called “Managing your Career” by Dr Hamid Mughal. This threw up some very interesting points for me: how to remain ahead in a very competitive market, what skills will help in your job hunt and your career or business development and some tools for planning your way forward.
0 comments
Recipe: Simple Chicken and Cauliflower Curry
Fri, Dec 02, 2011
My husband laid down a challenge to me recently – create a dish without all of the usual spices we overload one – no turmeric, no garam masala, no coriander powder and most astonishingly no red chilli powder – oh and he also mentioned I could leave out the ginger and garlic – really? I asked what that left behind and the remaining options he listed were fresh green chillies, black pepper and salt.
0 comments
Jannah Jewels: The Treasure of Timbuktu
Fri, Dec 02, 2011
I am always on the lookout for good books for my children, including interesting and inspiring Islamic children’s book. Jannah Jewels written by Umm Nura caught my eye because of the adventurous looking girls on the over and the idea of a group of young girls going through numerous adventures.
0 comments
Muslims and Christmas
Fri, Dec 02, 2011
It’s coming up to that time of year again – gifts, parties and traditions for some and dilemmas for others: Christmas. Every year, Christmas for me brings a set of challenges – do I capitulate and join in or do I hold my ground.
0 comments
Book Review: The Poor King by Asma Iftikhar
Tue, Jan 31, 2012
The Poor King is the story of an old man who lives in a hut made of mud and straw. He insists he is a king with a palace and servants much to the amusements of villagers who look on him with fondness. He is happy with his solitary life, spending his time caring for his sheep and cattle and sitting on his worn old rug to reflect in silence.
0 comments
Working mum Column: Keeping it Halal in the Workplace
Tue, Jan 31, 2012
As a working Muslimah, one of the things that I find very challenging is keeping it halal in the workplace. What do I mean by this? I mean adhering to the principles of my faith in a non-Islamic environment, avoiding those things that are forbidden for Muslims and ensuring I fulfil those things that have been obligated on me as a Muslim woman.
0 comments
The art of living with your in-laws
Fri, Feb 03, 2012
With my in-laws back living with me alhamdulillah, it took me to thinking about living harmoniously and issues of control, privacy and co-operation.
0 comments
Working mum column: Sick of Disney
Fri, Apr 06, 2012
Despite my best efforts to find alternatives to television for my children (including not having one), my daughter has developed a thing for all things female and Disney which has me worried.
0 comments
RSS 2.0 Feed
