The Blogger

 ASSALAMUALAIKUM. PEACE. HELLO.
Profile: Riham [20]---International Relations major and Middle Eastern Studies Minor.Sudanese American. Enjoys staying in and watching a good movie and snuggling up on the couch. 
Typical description right?
     Lets get real--this blog is a written expression of the world through my eyes, so its time I let you know who I am. At this point in my life, I feel as though I have grown so drastically [spiritually, emotionally, intellectually], that at times my life story appears foreign to me. Sometimes I lay down and just think for hours about how I got here. How did I go from feeling so lost to feeling found. I know it sounds cliché, but for the longest time I felt like a lost soul just wondering the world, looking for an answer. I knew deep inside that the reason for the emptiness I felt was the lack of a connection with Allah. I was born and raised in a Muslim household, but still, I could not get myself to practice Islam the way it should be practiced. Occasionally I would pray, but for the most part I lived my life according to the way I wanted to live it. I considered myself a good person, but at the same time, I wasn't following Allah's rules. 
    It wasn't until I came to college that my spiritual life was really put into perspective for me. Ramadan of my freshman year of college was the beginning of my journey to rediscovering myself. At that time, I found myself becoming close with the Muslim community at my school and soon I discovered that these people were my brothers and sisters in Islam. For the first time in a while, I identified myself as a Muslimah. After Ramadan, I remained close with my Muslim friends, although I was still in contact with my old friends. On some nights I would attend a dhikr with the Muslimah's on campus, but then on other nights I would be out with with my friends with my Muslim identity no where to be found. After a  while, I realized that I needed to choose one lifestyle over the other. 
    One night, I was given the opportunity to either stay in with my Muslim friends or to go out  with my other friends. That night I learned that it is possible to follow Islam and also enjoy what life has to offer at the same time. As my friends were getting ready to go out, I got up to pray isha with my Muslim brothers and sisters. That moment sparked a lot of emotion in me because I saw myself caught between two worlds. I realized that I was more content standing before Allah that night than I had ever been in my entire life. As time went on, I drifted away from my old friends and grew even closer to the sisters on campus. I loved learning about Islam and living life as a Muslimah. Soon, I began to pray five times a day, a ritual I had not completed for a very long time. Once I got myself to complete my prayers it seemed as though everything else just fell into place. Within a month I was wearing the hijab, something I never thought I'd be doing as a college student. 
     SubhanAllah, when people say that Allah has a plan for everyone, it really is true. Allah guides whom He wills, so even the lost can be found. I am so grateful that Allah chose to guide me and I don't even wanna think about how my life would have turned out had things happened differently. Alhamdulilah for everything. I just wanted to share my story with you in the hopes that it may help another lost soul out there. 

63 comments:

  1. Salam, Riham! Congratulations for your Blog that is full of beauty! Mash´Allah!
    The world needs Beauty and Peace.
    We have something in commom: I also want to live in Dubai when I am older. Insh´Allah!!!!!!!
    P.S: I like the way you wear the veil (without covering the neck)
    Have a wonderful week!

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  2. your awesome. i love your description of urself. pretty accurate.

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  3. JazakumAllah Kheirun. Denise, I'm glad you like the wear I wear my veil, but keep in mind though that in these photos I'm not wearing the hijab 100% in the correct way. The Quran does order us to cover everything but our face and our hands, and unfortunetly my neck is not fully covered in these photos. InshAllah I did not misguide you by having these photos up. :)

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  4. Salam alaykum Riham..
    I got your link on sisterswhoblog, and yes actually your picture (with some neck attracts me :) )
    alhamdulillah you dont wear it like that everyday.
    And then I visit your site, I like your personality, and mashaAllah you are too pretty!

    I'll visit again next time inshaAllah,

    sister's hugs! wa salam

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  5. ASA Sister,
    Masha'Allah a beautiful blog indeed! and I'm just getting started! Unfortunately I have to tear myself away from my laptop and go get some sleep now!
    Can't wait to see what other gems are hidden in here!

    I hope I can be as creative as you are when blogging ;) I'm still a work in progress.

    Thank you for sharing sis, truly appreciate it!
    God Bless.
    W'salam

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  6. What a wonderful wonderful intro to you : )Ma'shaAllah! Your story was so inspiring :D Jazakillah for sharing. Alhamdillah for Islam :)

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  7. Masha'Allah - you're such an inspiration - thank you for sharing. I wish you all success with your admirable aspirations insha'Allah. I wish I could have been like you when I was at uni but insha'Allah I too shall also be found soon.

    nadia

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  8. congrats on the growth of your blog sis....I believe I was the 1st 10 subscribers.

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  9. Huda: really?? :), thanks for supporting me when I had no idea what i was doing haha. i really do appreciate it.

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  10. Masha'Allah! I love your blog! I converted to Islam and I'm finding this site EXTREMELY helpful and inspiring! Alhamdillah. Thanks for sharing, Riham!

    Jazakallah Khair. :)
    wasalam!

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  11. mashAllah, may Allah make everything easy for you inshAllah. I'm really glad you're finding my blog helpful :). if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at beautyofislam1@yahoo.com

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  12. ASA, https://www.facebook.com/AMCNational

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  13. wa alaykum al salam. jazakAllah for the link. I'm glad it's being reposted on other sites. inshAllah this helps to make a change.

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  14. riham this is amazing. i identify with this more than you know! i feel like im a lost soul and i hope to one day reach your level. although i am already muhajaba i feel i have a long way to go to becoming the muslimah i want to be. now that ive read this i see your beauty isn't just skin deep. mashallah tabarak allah

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  15. Thanks Leena, your so sweet. We all have our ups and downs with our faith. May Allah guide us all.

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  16. الله معاك يا ريهام وأبناء وطنك كلهم معاك

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  17. abdelbagi mohammedJuly 8, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    salam alykom riham i can't express what i feel right now but am so proud that we've u my sister .. thanks for share your interesting story with us .. really you are inspire me .. thanks alot

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  18. We are behind you and France does not shake your head hair of my sister ...^_^

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  19. Mash'Allah beautiful blog.keep up the good work sister.

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  20. very interesting:)

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  21. assalamualaikum riham dear.what a beautiful story you share with us and your blog is really inspiring.may Allah bless.*big hugs from malaysia* ^^

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  22. Asalamalaikum!
    Im so happy for you sister :)
    I have changed so much this month. I never offered my prayer 5 times a day and never fasted the whole month..
    But now I dont want to be lost and do all the things that are farz on a muslim. I havent yet started wearing hijab but its not long till when I will :)
    Thanks for sharing with us.

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  23. As Salaam U Alaikum !

    I'm so happy for you sister, your story reminds me very much of myself, I too experienced something similar. Alhamdulillah Allah (swt) really does have a plan for us all. Your blog is really inspiring and quite awesome :)

    Do take care *hugs* Was Salaam :)<3

    Sister Jowhara*

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  24. khadeja rahman age:11 gender:girlOctober 25, 2011 at 3:42 AM

    I truly love your blog and i love the way you done your scarf, you know you should do a piece on how to do your scarf and put up some videos and pics up to show all the sisters how to do it nicely (only for the Muslim sisters obviously!)

    Assalaamualaikum sister

    From-Khadeja Rahman :D :P :S

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  26. Nice to meet you .Visit my blog and follow each other .

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  27. marvelous!!!! Riham. May god bless you>

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  28. Assalamualikom, its looks like your heart not your tongue is talking.
    may allah guide all muslims to the right way

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  29. good post !! salam.. akhi ^_^

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  31. Riham when I read ur story I felt like I was reading my journey of how I found Allah also. Wooww Allah truly is amazing. I grew up is a Muslim household too but I never really practiced either. Like you I was also lost between two worlds and Alhamduliah my freshman year of collge Alllah swt guided me also. I really enjoyed ur story because it was the same as mine too :)
    Asalam Alaikum and I pray Allah continues to guide you.

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  32. Salam
    I'm a lost soul born into a Muslim house but afflicted w depression u inspire me

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  33. Salaam alikom sister Riham! I came across your blog while searching about Islam and all that! (though suppose to be revising for exams ha!) and I find your blog amaaaaaazing!
    I'm British-Indo lived in the Western part most of my life, in which Islam played almost very little role. My parents sent me to an international Arabic uni in South-East Asia (I see a couple of foreign peeps!) and now elhamdulilah I've managed to see the beauty! I've started to wear the hijab but it was an on/off thing but inch'Allah it'd be better. Like you I'm doing political science IR!
    Hope we can get in touch, it would be super lovely! BTW I'm new in this blogger thing, I don't even know how to use it :/ xxx

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  34. Aslam Walaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Alaikum.
    Amazing brother really amazing. I really enjoyed ur story. Please Inspire people to
    learn the quran . May Allah must help you. Amin,,,,

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  35. Aslam Walaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Alaikum.
    Amazing brother really amazing. I really enjoyed ur story. Please Inspire people to

    learn the Quran . May Allah must help you. Amin,,,,

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  38. A very interesting and informative blog sister in Islam which I've just discovered today JazakAllahu khair for sharing your Islamic lessons and wisdom :) May Allah the Most Merciful forgive us always, accept all our good deeds and reunite us with His righteous friends in Heaven near Him and His noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam. Ameen. Wasalaam from Saudi Arabia and Philippines :) JustSharingIslam

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  39. Islamic women who choose to wear the hijab it allows them to retain their modesty, morals and freedom of choice. They choose to cover because they believe it is liberating and allows them to avoid harassment. Islam promotes modest dress among women. Many Muslim women wear a headscarf, often known as a hijab and in Quranic Arabic as the khimar. Many of these garments cover the hair, ears and throat, but do not cover the face. Why Wear Hijab

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