Rasulullah SallallAhu’alaihiwasallam (SAW) said (which means), “ The believer is the mirror of his brother. The believer is the brother of a believer: he protects him from ruin and guards his back.”

Narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a

MIRROR is a lifestyle magazine catered specially to the Muslim youths, sharing with them the Islamic way of life. We are not here to teach or preach, or to make judgement on anyone. A mirror never judges.

Living in a cosmopolitan city, where practicing Islam may be seen as complicated and passé, MIRROR is here to remind itself, as well as its fellow readers that Islam is simple and modern to practice.

Creative Muhammad Syaiful Bin Sam’an syaiful@mirror-mag.com

ContentMohamed Yazid yazid@mirror-mag.com

Public RelationsMuhammad Ayyub Bin Abdul Kadir ayyub@mirror-mag.com

Contact UsGeneral Enquiries: info@mirror-mag.com

Advertising Enquiries:ayyub@mirror-mag.com

ASSALAMU’ALAIKUM READERS,

Alhamdulillah, MIRROR has successfully launched. What better way to launch than on a new year. A new year, a new beginning, a new magazine. And that’s the theme for our debut issue – a new start. Being a new born baby, we’re just like a clean white canvas; the reason for our cover.

Hope you’ll enjoy what we have managed to put together in this issue. This is only the beginning, so please join us in our journey to spread the good word of Islam.

With Peace and Love,Syaiful

EDITORIAL NOTE

Contributors:

Fadhuli TaufekNurnina Syazwani Sufyan Sam’an Yusuf Isak

Religious ConsultantUstaz Lukmannul Hakeem

Web ConsultantSyihabuddin

21 FOOD

18 DEALING WITH DEALS

21

FEATURED CONTENTS

1810

10 LET’S PERFORM OUR PRAYERS.

28 ISLAMIC CHIC

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MuharramSafarRabi’ul AwwalRabi’ul AkhirJamadil AwwalJamadil AkhirRajabSya’banRamadhanSyawwalDzulqaidahDzulhijjah

The first month of the Islamic calendar,and one of the four sacred months where fighting is prohibited.

The name is derived from the word “Haram”,which means “impermissible”.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MONTHThe day of Ashura (10th day of Muharram)

Rasulullah SAW, has urged and encouraged his ummah to fast on this day. Abu Qataadah radiAallahu’anh (r.a) narrates that Rasulullah SAW was asked regarding the fast of the day of Ashura. Rasulullah SAW replied (which means): “It is a compensation for the (minor) sins of the past year”. (Muslim Vol.1 Page 368)

One should also observe the fast of the ninth Muharram to safeguard his deed from resemblance with the non-muslims who fast only on the tenth Muharram. However, if one does not manage to fast on the ninth, then he should fast on the eleventh of Muharram instead.

It is important to either fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram or the tenth and eleventh. To fast only on the day of Ashura is makruh (detestable).

RECOMMENDED DEEDSFast

As mentioned in the above, fasting is strongly encouraged by Rasulullah SAW. To add on, in a hadith, narrated by Ibnu Abbas r.a, Rasulullah SAW said (which means), “ The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of solah besides the compulsory solah is the solah tahajjud (performed after midnight before dawn).”

Being generous to family

One should be generous on one’s family and spend more on them than what is normally spent. Abu Hurairah r.a reports that Rasulullah SAW said (which means): “One who generously spends on his family on the day of Ashura, Allah will increase (his provision) for the whole year”. (Bayhaqi, At Targheeb Wat Tarheeb Vol. 2 Page 116)

These are the only deeds supported by ahaadeeth.

The 12 months in the Islamic calendar.Need an easy way to remember?Check out a nasyeed by AlarmMe, “Bulan-bulan Islam”.

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LEARNING ARABICThis month, we’ll be learning the basic everyday greetings.

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HiSalaam

Sobaahulkhair

Kaifa haaluka?

Kaifa haaluki?

Ana bikhair, syukran

Wa anta?

Wa anti?

Jayyid

How are you? (masculine)

How are you? (feminine)

I’m fine, thank you.

And you? (masculine)

And you? (feminine)

Good

Good morning

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MAIN ARTICLECOVER

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MAIN ARTICLECOVER

LET US PERFORM

OUR PRAYERS.

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Muharram; a new year, a new start, a new beginning. And synonymous to a new year is what one would call as resolution. Thus, let us start 1434H with a resolution;

to incorporate Solah into our daily lives. MIRROR have some pointers that we would like to share as a reminder for ourselves, as well as our dear readers. The performing of Solah is more than fulfilling our religious obligation. Prayer is an important act of worship where we develop a relationship with Allah S.W.T through submission to the Creator. It also widens our hearts and minds from the challenges of this life.

When performing the prayer, focus our minds and hearts only to Allah S.W.T. Be intimate with Allah through our remembrances and our praises to Him, prostrate to Him and supplicate so that Allah will open the doors of mercy and tranquility into our hearts and souls.

While bowing (ruku’) and prostrating (sujud), we are communicating with the Lord. The beauty and sweetness that we experience while performing our worship will definitely invoke our conviction, the sense of calm and an increased faith within us.

Inherently, we are also training ourselves to concentrate and focus our mind to Allah S.W.T through Solah. These attributes is also applicable beyond our prayers where our responsibilities and obligations requires dedication and focus.

By performing our Solah on time, we also inevitably develop the self-discipline of time management. In our engagement with others, tardiness is frowned upon as disrespecting or holding the other party in low regard. Thus, we need to be punctual to show not only respect but being professional when attending meetings.

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Allah S.W.T has blessed us with health perks through the simple yet effective physical exertions and positions in our Solah. The positions throughout the Solah offer physical, mental and spiritual benefits. The movements and actions throughout Solah activate our muscles and sends blood supply through our body. Let’s explore these positions and how they help our body.

Takbir During Takbir, the weight of our body is evenly distributed on both legs and our back is straightened for posture. Our body starts to relax with focus on the ground working in tandem with the mind for the ‘singleness of purpose’ to ibadah.

Qiyaam (Standing Erect)The Qiyaam position perfects our posture, balance and self-awareness. Our whole body including our muscular, immune and circulatory systems are stimulated and helps to normalize blood pressure and breathing.

Ruku’ (Bowing) This bowing position works the mid-section and tones the muscles surrounding it, stimulating the liver and kidney. The spine and hamstrings are also stretched making it supple, strong and flexible.

Sujud (Prostration) The position where our heads touch the ground improves blood flow and circulation in the brain. As the head is positioned lower than the heart, the body has to work harder to send blood to the brain. Our necks as well as the arms and forearms are also strengthened as they bear part of our weight.

Mutawarrikan (Sitting) This position during tashahhud, allows the body to naturally adjust to an upright and straight posture keeping the spine erect. Working the lower part of the body, pelvic muscles are strengthened and it stretches the quadriceps, knees and ankles. It also aids with digestion relieving stomach ailments.

Although these tokens during prayers are very beneficial for us, we must remember that they are secondary to the main purpose of fulfilling our obligations and worshipping to be closer to Allah S.W.T.

The Token From Solah

..so just turn right and go straight? The musollah is beside a green door?

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MUSOLLAH

Wisma Atria

7th Floor car park (staircase landing). Take Cargo Lift to 7th Floor. Out of lift take a left and go to the cooling tower. Take the pathway around the tower and it will lead to the staircase landing (converted to musollah). Sajadah, telekung, kain and songkok are available. Ablution: use the tap there.

Takashimaya Shopping CentreBasement 1; a small room near the toilets and staff entrance. Ablution can be taken outside the room. Sajadah provided. Good for two people at a time.

Lucky PlazaTake the cargo lift to level 8. For both muslimin and muslimah.

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

Basement 1 Carpark on the left of the lift lobby (for car park). The Musollah's door is facing the ablution area. Toilets are also located behind the lift lobby. Sajadah, kain and telekung are available.

Concorde HotelBasement 2. Musollah is a small room with a white door at the very end where cars will be turning out. There is a small curtain for partitioning between muslimin and muslimah.Ablution: to be taken at the toilet in the main building.

Forum The Shopping Mall

Next to Hilton Hotel near the Hard Rock Cafe. Take the lift at the loading bay and go to level 4 (roof-top) before turning right. The room is located next to a tap. Good for two people at a time. Qiblah is marked & sajadahs are available. It is advisable to bring your own telekung for muslimah.

Orchard Hotel (Arcade Shopping Centre)Basement 3 car park. Take the lift from Orchard Hotel (Arcade Shopping Centre) to Basement 2. Turn right and take the ramp to Basement 3. Next to it, there is a prayer room without air-condition. Ablution can be taken outside the room. The room is partitioned into muslimin and muslimah sections. Telekung is available. Seek help from hotel staff if need be.

Orchard Parade HotelThere’s a small surau somewhere in the 3rd floor carpark.No telekung available. For the key, please ask the bellboy.

Each issue, we’ll be sharing with you locations of Musollah at different parts of our island. This month, we start off with Orchard/Somerset area.

listing courtesy of IslamicEvents.sg

Full listing of Musollah is available at www.islamicevents.sg.

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PHOTOGRAPHY SYAIFULMODEL YUSUF

LA TAHZANINNALLAHAMA’ANA

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LA TAHZANINNALLAHAMA’ANA

Don’t be sad.. Indeed, Allah is with us.

“Don’t be sad; indeed, Allah is with us”. I’m sure many of us have come across this line before but what does it really mean? Why shouldn’t we be sad because Allah is with us? Let’s break it down. Why do we even get sad in the first place? It’s due to loss or disappointments right? We can get sad because we’ve lost someone or something we love. We get disappointed because things didn’t turn out the way we wanted them to. Allah has never forsaken us. He sees, hears and knows everything we do. He knows what lies in our hearts. He knows our hopes and fears, our needs and desires. He is The All Seeing (Al-Basir), The All Hearing (As-Sami’), The All Knowing (Al-’Alim), The Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman) and The Most Beneficent (Ar-Rahim). Why can we become so devastated because of our sadness? It’s because we’ve placed Dunya as a source of our happiness. We’ve become dependent on Dunya instead of Allah. To build our hopes on Dunya is like building a sandcastle near the ocean; it won’t be there forever. Eventually it will get washed away. Allah is always with us but we’re the ones that turn away from Allah. We forget to ask Allah. Instead we have become too focused on the thing that we love that we’ve forgotten what our lives were like without it; we slowly become unable to see a future without it. That is why sometimes Allah takes it away from us; to bring us back to Him. Don’t be sad or rather don’t let yourself drown in sadness. It’s normal to get sad when we lose something we love or when things don’t go the way we want them to but don’t dwell on it until we become unable to see all the other things that Allah has blessed us with.

If we think about it, there are plenty of other people who are worse off than ourselves. When we realize the greatness and majesty of Allah, it’s like a child becoming braver and willing to do something when his parents are around. Even though there is a possibility of getting hurt, he would still do it because he knows there’s someone to catch him should he fall or cheer him up when he gets sad. Allah knows what is best for us. Perhaps when He took something away from us, it was a lesson for us to turn to Him; to realize that everything in Dunya is temporary and that Akhirah is everlasting. He is the best of all planners. What we want and what’s best for us might not necessarily be the same thing. That’s why we should say “InshaAllah” (If Allah wills it) when we plan to do something in the future. It could be that not doing it or doing something else is better. Make Allah the source of your strength and you’ll be able to pull through. Make Allah the source of your happiness and you’ll be able to overcome your disappointments.

by Fadhuli Taufek fadhulitaufek.wordpress.com

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Meet Miss Lydiawati Ismail. She has a platform that may offer users potential savings. Named HalalDeals.sg, it offers deals for Halal products and services ranging from fashion, food and even children’s enrichment programmes. Similar to other deal sites, a limited timeframe is made available for users to purchase the deals offered. Despite launching as recently as September this year, the promising site has already been featured in the local media. MIRROR spoke to her on HalalDeals.sg beginnings and its future plans. Read on to find out.

DEALING

DEALSWITH

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MIRROR: Share with us how HalalDeals.sg started?

Lydiawati: I have been wanting to start a business on my own. I noticed a growing trend nowadays to purchase items or goods via deal sites, and from time to time I realized a missing gap. There are no deal sites that is specially catered for our Muslim community, i.e. dealing with only Halal food or goods. Hence the idea to set up HalalDeals.sg was born. It was a Eureka moment!

MIRROR: What deals can users look out for at HalalDeals.sg?

Lydiawati: When we talk about Halal, some of us would relate Halal to only food. But in actual fact, Halal has a wider meaning to it. Example, it can relate to clothing, in this case modest clothing for ladies etc. Therefore, we will not only be featuring Halal food. They can expect to get deals from Halal food to Beauty and Wellness (e.g. body massage packages by SpaJelita or Halal beauty products by Glamore) to education (e.g. the Arabic Montessori program by Little Muslim Reader for kids) and products (e.g. Rehal or Ahiida Burqini Swimwear). In the future insyaAllah, we hope to have travel deals etc. to come on board as well.

MIRROR: What was your family and friends reaction to you starting HalalDeals.sg?

Lydiawati: Only close friends and family members knew about me managing and being the founder of HalalDeals.sg when it first started. However the newspaper article from Berita Harian (dated 06/11/2012) somehow spread the news to other friends and other family members. They were very supportive indeed since this portal will benefit our community.

MIRROR: Do you run the HalalDeals.sg alone or do you have any help running it?

Lydiawati: At the moment I am running this alone. InsyaAllah, I am looking at expanding. And hopefully I can get more salesperson and administrative staff to assist me.

MIRROR: How do you source for businesses to offer their products or services on HalalDeals.sg?

Lydiawati: I did my research via Facebook and Google search.

MIRROR: What are the feedbacks you have received from both customers and businesses using HalalDeals.sg?

Lydiawati: So far so good. I do have merchants or business owners who approached me to do a second/third deal. Customer wise I have yet to receive any major complain, except for one customer who feedback in Facebook that she has a minor problem during redemption due to some employees or staff running who are not aware of their business participation in HalalDeals.sg. Well, we have adviced merchants accordingly to disseminate the information on their participation in HalalDeals.sg. All in all I know it’s not going to be a smooth sailing journey for now and in the future, insyaAllah be it good or negative feedbacks in the future, I will try to amend or make changes to HalalDeals.sg (if required) along the way. There can never be a perfect ‘system’. So I do apologise for any inconveniences so far in relation to HalalDeals.

MIRROR: Any future plans for the business?

Lydiawati: I hope to expand HalalDeals. One of the most important thing to do is to feature more deals on HalalDeals. And I believe that’s the hope of our consumers as well. With that, I hope to hire salesperson(s) to get the ball rolling faster at HalalDeals.sg.

MIRROR: Do you have any words for aspiring youths keen to take up entrepreneurship?

Lydiawati: If there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t let your situation or surrounding get in your way. Take that FIRST STEP - Try, Plan, Execute and Pray, and these small achievements will definitely make your day. There are bound to be difficulties and barriers that you will face along the way. Don’t brood or be too disappointed over it, STEP UP your GAME and face it. Put your problem solving skills to the test, and get it over soon. Seek advice from the professionals if required. Don’t be surprised that these small achievements can become a big one, “InsyaAllah Kheir”. Even if it does not come to the level that you expect it to be, at least you’ve TRIED! Entrepreneurship journey is not only a life-learning experience but also a life-changing experience! All the best!

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HEALTH

In the pursuit of worldly needs and ibadah (worship), let’s not forget about keeping ourselves in shape. Good health will ensure we are able to fulfill our daily activities with ease and also our worship to Allah swt. It is important for us to make the effort to look after our health. Sadly in our community, health is regarded as though it is not important, which is very much not the case in Islam. Let’s not take for granted this gift from the All Mighty and make the change starting from this new year, to live a healthier life. Here are the two main things to consider to make that change:

1. Have a well-balanced diet.

We’re not saying you can’t indulge in the comfort food that we all love, but do so in moderation. There are a lot of verses in the Quran in relation to healthy diet, balanced and nutritious meals, as well as eating in moderation. Below are a couple of examples:

Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 171 which means, “Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth.”

Surah Taha, verse 81 which means, “Eat and drink, but avoid excess.” In a hadith narrated by Ibn Maja, the Prophet SAW said which means, “ No human being has ever filled a container worse than his own stomach. The son of Adam needs no more than a few morsels of food to keep up his strength, doing so he should consider that a third of his stomach is for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing.” So what is a typical balanced diet? Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Rice & Alternatives – 5 to 7 servings per day

Vegetables & Fruits – 2 servings each per day

Meat & Alternatives – 3 servings per day

Oil, sugar & salt – small amounts per day, just enough to season your meal

2. Exercise.

Exercise helps to keep us fit and our body strong and healthy. Pick up a sport or physical activity that you have an interest in. Perhaps it could be combat sports such as Judo or Karate or even extreme sports such as wall climbing. You could even put on your running shoes and do a jog or run around the neighborhood. Over time, you will notice better coordination, balance and overall health. These lead to better concentration in your worship as well. So how often should a typical adult exercise and how long should each session last?

It is recommended by most countries’ health organisations that an adult should at least do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, five times a week. You don’t need to do the 30 minutes session at one go. Split it up throughout the day if it suits you best. As long as you hit 30 minutes per day, you’re right on track. Set your intentions right for exercising because when exercising to get fit for the sake of Allah will you receive rewards for your effort, as it is considered as ibadah, insyaAllah. Same goes to eating healthy – with intentions of getting the right energy so that you can make ibadah to Allah.

So there you have it. Give these tips a try. InsyaAllah, with our efforts in improving our health, we’ll become better Muslims in the process. Ameen.

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FOOD

This segment introduces to you some halal options for the food that we love. For the month of Muharram, we’re sharing with you a couple of must try bakeries.

Away from the busy roads lies an inconspicuous bakery serving an assortment of items ranging from traditional bites to pastries. The brainchild of Mdm Roszilah Md Nor, Heiraz has grown from its humble beginning as a home business in 2003 to its current operation of a retail outlet and a baking studio.

The retail outlet in Yishun is located along a stretch of other ground floor shops. The outlet is hard to miss with interiors adorned in yellow. The storefront has a fairly simple design with a bakery showcase displaying the day offerings. The modest range of baked items belies the treat that awaits.

One of the core offerings at Heiraz is bread. We were treated to freshly baked Sambal Ikan Bilis Bun. It is one of the best-selling and it certainly did not disappoint. The bun had a fluffy texture with generous filling of sambal ikan bilis which was still piping hot. The sambal ikan bilis filling was moderately spicy with a hint of sweetness in it. The top of the bun was glazed with the right amount of egg which boosts the taste and texture of the Sambal Ikan Bilis Bun.

We also tried the Shepherd’s Pie. Consisting of mashed potatoes, ground beef and topped with cheese, it tasted great with the right amount of ingredients. The ingredients complemented each other and we wished it was sold on a bigger serving.

Heiraz Baking Studio runs several programs catering for beginners and intermediates. These include the Bake Like a Pro (BLP) and Baking Express (BX) courses which cover theory and practical aspects of baking. Heiraz also offers the Support Bakers Campaign for Low Income where classes are provided specifically for low income family and single parents.

For more details on the courses, visit Heiraz at www.Heiraz.com or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heiraz .

Address: Blk 235 Yishun St 21 #01-458. Tel: 6755-7809. Opens 8 a.m to 7 p.m Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m to 3 p.m Saturdays to Sundays.

Hidden in the Heartland

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Sambal Ikan Bilis Bun

Shepherd’s Pie

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In the photo (clockwise from left to right) : Premium Red Velvet cupcakes in a box, Rainbow Cake (In A Jar) , Brownies and Brownie Platter.

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Brownie Platter

Red Velvet Cupcakes

MIRROR was treated to try some of the goodies from sistabrownie. We were spoilt for choice with the different toppings for the brownie platter. We could choose toppings of M&M minis, marshmallows and even mocha beans. It was a twist from the usual toppings of chips and nuts. The brownies were moist and slightly fluffy with the different toppings adding oomph to it. Others may prefer their brownie fudgy, dense or chewy but it comes down to individuals’ personal preferences. Served in bite-sized portions, Miss Sherri Anne noted that such portions are for events to offer to as many people and to avoid possible wastage. We also tried the current bestseller, the Premium Red Velvet Cupcakes. Filled with Nutella, it oozes when taking a bite at the centre and complemented the chocolate-based cupcake. The cupcake itself was moist and firm which didn’t break into crumbs. The cream cheese frosting may be a tad too rich for one of us but it does go well with the cupcake with its fluffy texture. There is also the Classic Red Velvet Cupcake which essentially is without the Nutella filling.

Sistabrownie has evolved since its inception. Miss Sherri Anne ensures she keeps up with current and upcoming baking trends to stay relevant. She added the importance of being flexible to cater to differing needs of her customers. MIRROR wishes sistabrownie sweet years ahead.

Visit sistabrownie on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sistabrownie or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @sistabrownie.

You’re So Sweet, Sista!Her attempt at making the right brownie led her from baking to starting a business. Sharing her cakey brownie, the name “sistabrownie” turned up and stuck since. Started in 2006 by Miss Sherri Anne, sistabrownie offers an assortment of made-to-order goodies. These include the brownies, cheesecakes and cupcakes amongst others in many myriad of flavours.

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CHECK IT OUTHave you checked out your favourite candy bar? If it’s halal certified, Alhamdulillah. If it’s not, here’s a list of stabilizers, emulsifiers, and food additives that are not permissible, which you should keep a look out for.

With “E” prefixes: E120, E140, E141, E252, E422, E430, E431, E470, E471, E472(a), E472(B), E472(c), E472(d), E472(e), E473, E474, E475, E477, E478, E481, E482, E483, E491, E492, E494.

Without “E” prefixes:

120, 141, 160(A), 161, 252, 300, 301, 422, 430, 431, 433, 435, 436, 441, 470, 471, 472(a, e), 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 481, 482, 483, 491, 492, 494, 542, 570, 572, 631, 635, 920. Source: Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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DID YOU KNOW?

• The original name of the holy city of Madinah was Yathrib. • Rasulullah SAW performed Hajj only once.

• Muslims do not worship the Kaabah; the Kaabah is simply a focal point for prayer ordered by Allah S.W.T.

• The majority of Muslims do not live in the middle east. The most populous Muslim country is Indonesia, the 4th largest country in the world with 184 million Muslims. There are more Muslims in India than the combined population of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and the whole of the Arabian Peninsula.

• The following English words are borrowed from Arabic: Algebra, Zero, Cotton, Sofa, Rice, Candy, Safron, Balcony. And even ‘alchohol’ derives from Arabic : al-kuhl meaning powder. These are just a few to mention.

• Sayidina Amr bin Thabit r.a became a Muslim during the battle of Uhud, and died as a martyr in the same battle. When asked about him, Rasulullah SAW said that he was from the People of Paradise, even though he had not prayed a single solah.

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ISLAMIC CHIC

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LADIES

What you need: 1. A head band 2. A rectangular shawl or pashmina 3. Some pins 4. A pretty little brooch

HIDDEN BEAUTY: A TUTORIALA step by step tutorial on how to put on the hijab in a stylish manner, in the simplest and quickest way possible.

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01 02 03Put your shawl or pashmina neatly over your head band. Align to make the right side longer than the left.

Pin it onto the headband.Bring the inside of the left onto the right of the shawl.

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04 05 0604

07

05

08 09

06Pinch the fringe of your left side and gently flip it backwards.

Secure with a pin.

Pick a brooch of your choice to gently secure the shawl. (Careful not to prick yourself!)

Take the inner right side.

And there you have it!Bring it across to the left shoulder.

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STREETSTYLEundercover

MIRROR has been out on the streets and spotted some of our sisters undercover in style; modestly donned in hijab is what we meant by that. STREETSTYLE undercover aims to serve as a lookbook for our fellow sisters who are figuring out how to dress well in modesty, and also for those who are thinking of or are just getting started to put on the veil. Have some trendy looks that you would like to share? Send photos to us at streetstyle@mirror-mag.com.

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MEN

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TGIFFriday, the leader of all days. A day to work, pray, and celebrate. Wondering if there’s an outfit that can suit Friday’s 3-in-1 occasion? Well wonder no more. Here are some tips on how to transform an outfit into three different looks to suit the different occasions.

OR

cardigan

dress shoes sneakerschapal

bow

songkok

shirt chinos

a guide on what you’ll need

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SERIOUS STUFFformal friday.

cardigan to keep you warm in the lecture theatre or the office.

remember to keep this button undone; it’s a rule.

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LET’S PRAYlisten to what the khatib’s got to say.

practice a sunnah; wear white for Jum’ah prayer.

change to a pair of chapal to compliment your songkok. it’s hassle free and you won’t need to worry about loosing your shoes.

revive that old school Melayu look with a songkok.

fold ‘em above the ankles. it’s trendy and the Tok Haji at the masjid will surely be pleased to see this.

fold em’ up to prepare for wudhu’. you’ll get that 1950s Melayu look with it too.

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CASUALLY SMARThang out in style.

cardigan to hide the wrinkled sleeves from the earlier folds.

put on a pair of dress shoes if you’re going to a formal event.

a bow or you can replace it with a tie, to add the smart to the casual.

cardigan unbuttoned for a casual look. button them up if you want to look sharper. remember the rule.

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Handbag Tote bag

Backpack Holdall

Satchel

WHATEVER YOUR STYLE. . .

THE SOLAH KIT WILL FIT IN.

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When you have class through Zuhur and the musollah is too far away. When you have an evening movie outing with your classmates and the show starts at 7.30. When your workplace

doesn’t have a proper praying area and you don’t have enough time to get to the masjid. We introduce to you: the Solah Kit. This Solah Kit will surely come in handy. All that the kit consists are as illustrated above – a compass, a bottle of water, and a pocket prayer mat.

With smartphone technology these days, there are heaps of applications for download to find the qiblah; the direction to face when praying. So now you can replace the compass with your smartphone, something you probably have with you most of the time. What do you know, one less item to bring around.

Get yourself a water bottle. Fill it up with tap water, which you would use for wudhu’. This comes in handy when you somehow can’t find a washroom nearby. When the washroom is available, this bottle is useful for you to wash your feet. No more lifting your feet into the sink. Ouh, and this water bottle can double up as your thirst quencher. Singapore’s tap water is safe to drink isn’t it?

The pocket prayer mat is available for purchase at some shops in Joo Chiat Complex as well as several masjids around the island. The size of a pocket, surely it wouldn’t take up much space in your bag. Put it in your pocket for all you want. Unfold it and you’ll have a full size sajadah, comfortable for praying Alhamdulillah. Of course you can have alternatives such as a towel, the mini sajadah meant for your forehead or even your dad’s sarong, but the pocket prayer mat is simply portable and convenient. And some of it comes with a compass too! There goes the old school compass again.

Just for the ladies, an additional item to your kit – the travel telekung (praying veil). There are variations of these available in the market. Some of them even come in a purse! You may get one of these from the same shop where you purchase the pocket praying mat.

So there you have it, the Solah Kit. Having this kit around allows you to pray anywhere, anytime. We hope that with the introduction of this kit, it’ll help in taking away the worry when you’re running out of time to pray.

JOIN US.Drop us an email at contact@mirror-mag.com. We are currently looking for web designers, graphic designers and writers, however, anyone who are interested to join us, we welcome you with open arms.

ENTERTAINMENT

& THE ARTS

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GOOD LISTENA segment to share with you some songs and people worth listening to.

RAEF

It is refreshing to listen to Raef singing covers of recent hits and contemporary songs. The songs relate to our Muslim values by adding Arabic melodies or even changing lyrical verses from the original. Each song has a positive message for us to reflect and emulate.

Born in Washington D.C and raised in Maryland, Raef signed with record label Awakening Records which roster includes top Islamic music industry Swedish singer, Maher Zain.

One of the cover songs was ‘I’m Yours’, originally sung by Jason Mraz. The song was a huge hit and broke Billboard Hot 100 list spending over 70 weeks in the charts. Raef added an acoustic feel to the song with minor changes to the lyrics to highlight our relationship with the Lord and each passing moment bringing a close to our life.

Raef has also covered others songs like Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and even Rebecca Black’s “Friday”. Check Raef and his music out, and be inspired to make change for the better in our lives.

PS: Raef is a computer science high school teacher by trade.

BOONA MOHAMMED

Boona Mohammed is no ordinary young Muslim. The 25 year old Canadian is already an award winning writer and poet. His achievements include a playwright residency at Theatre Passe Muraille , Canada’s oldest alternative theatre and a short story published in a Penguin Canada anthology called “Piece by Piece”.

One of his works can be seen on YouTube titled “Kill Them With Love” recited at a Tedx conference in Toronto, Canada. Tedx is an event where people share on their experiences and ideas to promote learning and spark inspirations. The title itself is an oxymoron where the terms ‘kill’ and ‘love’ contradict but serve to address the event’s theme of “Call to Action”. Boona explores on the idea of prejudice where as a minority, he is frowned upon despite facing challenges like everyone else. He also brings upon the Islamic way of life which he applies in his dealings with others.

The poetry recital is fairly short at under five minutes but Boona makes us reflect on how it is better to treat everyone nicely and appreciate the differences around us.

Check Boona and his works on his website at boonaa.com. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

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lower your gaze by Muhammad Syaiful

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CLASSES Tafsir Class in EnglishEvery Tuesday, 8pm at 459A Changi Road 419882 (Opp Kassim Mosque, above Kassim Restaurant)

The Tremendous Three (English)Basic to intermediate Akidah, Fiqh & Tasawwuf. Every Friday, 9pm at En-Naeem Mosque, 120 Tampines Rd (Near Hougang Ave 3)

No fees charged for both classes. Highly recommended for youth.

EVENTS

Y.O.U.R Night – Love Allah (Part Two) Fri - Sat, 16-17 November 2012 7.30pm to 7.00am Masjid En-Naeem, Level 2, Bidadari Room 2 & 3 Highlights: Talk & Activities, Qiyamulail,Food for the soul, Spiritual Jamming.Guest Speaker- Ustaz Nuzhan Register at http://bit.ly/SvU6Rm.

Maal Hijrah 1434H – Hijrah. Satu Perubahan. Satu Pembaharuan. Sat, 17th November 2012 10am - 10pm Masjid Haji Yusoff 2 Hillside Drive, Upper Seranggoon For more information, visit facebook.com/masjidhjyusoff.

The W.R.I.T.E. Club Young Muslim Scien-tist Camp 2012 Fri - Sat, 21-23 December 2012 Three Days of Science & ResearchIn The Company of Distinguished Doctors & ProfessorsFees: $100 (Early bird), $150 (Normal)This event is strictly limited to 100 participants only. Location: Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, Islamic Hub, Changi Airport and Al-Istiqamah Mosque. via IslamicEvents.sg

WHAT’S GOING ON?Sharing with you a list of happenings going on around town.

TALKS/WORKSHOPS

Best Generation Revived 2 Sun, 18 November 2012 8.45am - 1pm Conducted in English.Biopolis Auditorium, Matrix @ Level 2 (North Buona Vista Road) 480 Seatings, admission is free. SMS to register at 9170 1870. via IslamicEvents.sg Jannah for Muslimah 2 Sun, 18 November 2012 9am - 5.30pm Masjid Abdul Hamid Kampung Pasiran 10 Gentle Rd (5 min walk from Novena MRT) Fees: $50 (lunch & notes included) Only 25 seats available, for muslimah aged 17-30.For registration & enquiries, contact Bro Mahathir at 9327 4732.

Guide To Solah Workshop Sun, 25th November 20129.30am - 5.00pm Ar-Raudhah MosqueFees: $22 (Adult), $15 (Students – including tertiary level), Free for New Mulsims (Reverts) Register at guidetosolah.com.

D’Apprentice – A Youth Workshop Sat, 8 December 2012 9 am - 5 pmDarul Arqam (Muslim Converts Association) For more information, visit D’Apprentice on facebook. via IslamicEvents.sg

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DEAR USTAZ,Have a question about Islam but don’t know where to go to? Or maybe

you are just shy to ask. Write in your queries to askustaz@mirror-mag.com.

InsyaAllah your doubts will be answered.

For reading/browsing through MIRROR. We hope you like what we have put together for you in this debut issue. Let us know what you think. We need some constructive feedback to grow. Also tell us what you would like to see in our next issue. Email to us at info@mirror-mag.com. We look forward to your kind support and hearing from all of you soon. If you like what you see, and would like to engage us in design or writing, or if you’re interested in collaborating with us, feel free to reach us at the same email address. A special thank you to our families and friends for all the du’as and continuous support. Once again a big thank you to everyone.

Till the next issue, insyaAllah. Wassalaam.

THANK YOU