I am not going to lie to you guys, I’ve been comparing myself to other people a lot lately in terms of not just appearance but also how successful someone is at something I want.

I know, it’s toxic and it’s something that is sadly normalized due to social media and all that. I’ve deleted socials before, and it is very liberating, but now that social media is a part of some of my work, I feel like I can’t escape it fully. However, it got me thinking that it really is all about mindset and how negatively it can impact me. After reflecting on days I would feel this way from time to time, I found a repeating factor in all of this. It’s the fact that I don’t become aware that I am living in my own timeline and everyone else is too. But each one of ours is different. It’s easy to think that we should look or be like someone else because that person has what we desire, but that itself can hurt your own progress and what you can learn from it.

There comes a time when we feel frustrated with ourselves because we see others successful, having your dream job, or looking the way you’ve wanted to look. But everyone is in their own season; some may be full-blown flowers, and some are still a seed. We are all in different seasons, and it doesn’t mean we all need to be in the same one. It is actually better that we aren’t because we can learn from one another.

You may see someone has a higher position than you at your job, and you're still in a lower position, but it’s because their timeline is different than yours.

Imagine having the same lifestyle as someone else, and you both are struggling at the same time; how can we help one another?

You are allowed to unfold and grow when YOU are ready because there is truly no rush to grow or to learn something. God made us all unique with different lives, circumstances, and appearances, and that is just the way life works! You might be in a position in your life that another person wants, and vice versa, and that will always be the case. It’s just that mindset we need to have when we do catch ourselves in the position of comparing our lives with another.

So if you catch yourself comparing your timeline with others, just know they have gone through different situations and so have you. We should not expect to rise too fast, for we will miss the lessons along the way.

You are where you are for a reason, and you may be living through your du’as or manifestations that you’ve made. You will get there on your own time, and you will see the blessings and lessons through that journey.

Looking back and even now, I would see other people and their successes and think that I am so behind, but I’m not. There is no such thing as being behind or ahead; everyone is at the place they should be. It is up to you to truly make a difference and to move forward with the life you want.

Gentle tip: Trust YOUR timing and Allah (swt)’s timing. <3

This was a quick and short article, but I had these thoughts and wanted to share my reflections! If this resonated with you at all, please comment and let me know your thoughts as well!

Until next time, Salaam! 🤍

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As we all know, we are encouraged to read Surah Al- Kahf every Friday, as it grants us light and protection until the next Friday, if God wills it. I try my best to read it throughout the day on Friday, as it can be a long Surah to read. However, the blessings I have found from this Surah alone are incredible. I have seen a difference throughout my week. I feel much more peaceful and calm knowing that Allah is All-Protecting, Al-Hafeeth.

I also found that we are encouraged to memorize the first 10 verses of this Surah as it protects us from the trials of the Dajjal, and so I did. However, I never exactly knew what each verse truly meant and why it is meant to protect us from the Dajjal.

The Dajjal is known as the greatest trial known to humanity during the end of times. Although I pray I don’t live through those times, as it is very scary, seeing how the world is looking right now…we truly never know. The first 10 verses hold a significant power to always remain as a source of protection to shield us against this trial.

It had me thinking that although it is a way to protect us from that specific trial, I believe it can protect us from every trial or hardship we deem harmful to our faith.

The surah itself contains stories of trials and tribulations and lessons for us believers to stay steadfast in our faith. But what do the first 10 verses tell us that holds such significance in protecting us?

بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

The Cave (18:1)

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَاۜ ١

All praise is for Allah Who has revealed the Book to His servant, allowing no crookedness in it,

The verse opens with praise of Allah (swt), who revealed the Quran with utmost perfection as a way to give us Muslims a source of guidance that is free from any error.

The Cave (18:2)

قَيِّمًۭا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًۭا شَدِيدًۭا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًۭا ٢

˹making it˺ perfectly upright, to warn ˹the disbelievers˺ of a severe torment from Him; to give good news to the believers—who do good—that they will have a fine reward,

The Quran is a path to guiding believers towards good and warns us of any wrongdoing. Righteous acts are promised a rewarding end.

Reflection: I think it is fascinating that Allah (swt) gives us a clear path to success if we just knew the meaning of the Quran. The Quran is like a speech from God that gives us advice and lessons on how we can live a fulfilling life. It is sad to see many people fabricating it, making up verses, or taking things out of context that completely contradict the true meaning of what Allah (swt) is telling us.

The Cave (18:3)

مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا ٣

in which they will remain forever;

The reward is eternal blessing awaiting believers in the Hereafter.

Reflection: Imagine a reward for all the struggle you’ve gone through with patience and tawakkul in Allah (swt) that, in the end, it is forever blessings coming your way.

The Cave (18:4)

وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًۭا ٤

and to warn those who claim, “Allah has offspring.”

This verse emphasizes that Allah (swt) is One, the Oneness of God. This is called Tawheed, which is rejecting any partnership with Him.

The Cave (18:5)

مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةًۭ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًۭا ٥

They have no knowledge of this, nor did their forefathers. What a terrible claim that comes out of their mouths! They say nothing but lies.

The knowledge of Allah (swt) is sacred. This verse reminds us to preserve the truth about Allah (swt) and His attributes.

The Cave (18:6)

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ٦

Now, perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their denial, if they ˹continue to˺ disbelieve in this message.

This ayah reflects on the Prophet pbuh’s concerns for those who reject the truth. A reminder to remain steadfast even when everyone around you chooses to disbelieve.

The Cave (18:7)

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةًۭ لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ٧

We have indeed made whatever is on earth as an adornment for it, in order to test which of them is best in deeds.

Allah (swt) is reminding us that the beauty of this world is a test; everything in this world is temporary, and we must stay focused on our purpose.

The Cave (18:8)

وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًۭا جُرُزًا ٨

And We will certainly reduce whatever is on it to barren ground.

Everything on Earth will be reduced to nothing. It is very important to detach from any worldly possessions that may steer you away from your faith.

The Cave (18:9)

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا ٩

Have you ˹O Prophet˺ thought that the people of the cave and the plaque were ˹the only˺ wonders of Our signs?

This verse introduces the story about the People of the Cave, young believers who were protected by Allah (swt) during the time of persecution. Allah (swt) can provide refuge and protection to those who stand firm in their faith.

The Cave (18:10)

إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا ١٠

˹Remember˺ when those youths took refuge in the cave, and said, “Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and guide us rightly through our ordeal.”

This verse says that believers call upon Allah (swt) for mercy and guidance. There is a power in du’a that is so incredible. There is importance in turning to Allah (swt) during times of need because one du’a can truly change the course of your life.

Reflection: I think it is so amazing to think that when we make du’a, Allah (swt) will grant it in whatever way that is best for us. It is never a ‘no’ it’s always a yes or a yes but not right now or in this exact way. He wants us to turn to Him, and some trials you may go through may be because of the fact that Allah (swt) simply wants you to turn to Him.

The first 10 ayahs encapsulate the meaning of turning to Allah (swt) for refuge and protection during times of trial, which is why it is crucial to memorize these 10 verses to protect us when the time comes. It establishes our belief in Allah (swt) and His Oneness, “Tawheed”, and remaining steadfast. This world is not a place we will be in forever, so always be in remembrance of Allah so He can remember you.

I hope you guys liked this read! I genuinely love reflecting on the Quran and especially when we are recommended to memorize or read a certain passage for a chance to obtain blessings and protection. Although I think it is crucial to try to memorize the Quran, I am a firm believer in taking my time with digesting the meaning of Allah’s words to us. Maybe one day I can memorize the Quran, but for now I want to learn the meaning behind our sole purpose.

Until next time! Salam!

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I really think that the world we are living in now puts us into automatic survival mode. It is not easy navigating life, but it is doable if we are more kind to ourselves.

I used to often be so angry and frustrated with myself, in a way that made my days feel like a huge weight on my chest. When I made a mistake, I would blame myself and think so many negative things about myself, which brought my self-esteem down. When things didn't go the way I hoped, I would feel immensely upset as to why. It was at a time during high school, which I know I was still a child, still navigating life as I still am now. I didn’t realize that I was truly emotionally and spiritually hurting myself.

I started hijab at a really young age, at around the age of 12. I was in transition from 7th to 8th grade. I look back, and I think, wow, I really chose a tough time. In high school, I would hate myself in hijab, and the negative thoughts I had made me insecure.

I would pray to Allah swt and try to reach out, but it was not through trust but through the feeling of desperation for my life to fix itself. There was a hole in my heart that needed to be filled. I just didn’t know how. I recognized these patterns and realized how much I was rough on myself to the point where I lost that fulfilling feeling within everything I did.

It revealed to me that this is my first time living and navigating life just like everyone else in this world. I just did not give myself any grace nor any gentleness that I knew I deserved. The gentleness of talking to myself through tough moments, journaling when I felt upset or mad, praying on time, incorporating dhikr to ground myself, connecting with the Quran and its meaning, taking a step back, incorporating the right movement for my body, and not blaming myself for anything that went wrong.

I believe that with these steps that I took, slowly, I was able to find peace within myself. I definitely still have my internal battles every day, but I try approaching it gently.

I heard this saying that said, “Would you treat your best friend the way you treated yourself? Or your baby sibling?” and it really hit me.

We should treat ourselves with the same treatment we do with the people we love. It only makes sense because if you aren’t there for yourself, how can you be there for others?

So there is no need to be so hard on yourself. Having tawwakkul in Allah that He is there for you will also help you be there for yourself. I now look back at the time I wore the hijab and the time I really struggled with it. I am now grateful for those moments because it has taught me strength in so many ways. I just wish I was more gentle on myself through those times. However, I now see myself taking care of my feelings and self-esteem when it comes to wearing hijab now.

The more gentle and calm you are with yourself, the more you’re able to navigate life as it is, but in a different light.

If you are struggling in any way, let this be your reminder to be kind to yourself; your body and mind have a right on you, the same body and mind that is responsible for worshiping Allah every day. You only have one, so treat it with kindness and live your life with gentleness.

I hope this resonates with you in whatever way that helps. Please support me by subscribing and leaving comments with your thoughts!

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Until next time! Salam!

I was looking back on some of my journal entries from the past year and realized many things about myself. This is why I love the idea of journaling as an archive of all the moments that have made me the person I am today. The hardships, the small wins, the big wins, times I’ve felt mad or sad, and things I’ve made dua for.

There was something more specific that became a bigger topic as I reflected. There was a time in my life when I felt like I always had to be at the service of others to be friends with or acquainted with certain people (aka people-pleasing). When I realized how much it had hurt the way I viewed relationships with people, I decided to change how I interacted with others so that I could establish better boundaries and focus on pleasing myself and, of course, pleasing Allah swt.

I felt a big shift from the friendships I went through, where I spent so much of my time trying to please them, sacrificing the time I should’ve spent on myself. Looking back, I had a huge group of friends, and for each one, I felt like I was so focused on their lives more than my own. Later on, I realized how much I had outgrown these friends. I took that outgrowing to mean seeing myself as the problem for why certain friendships didn’t work out. I felt that outgrowing myself was because I had changed.

However, it was not that I changed or even felt the need to change. It was that I evolved.

I looked at the meanings of both change and evolve, and I found that change is becoming a different person or changing a significant characteristic, and evolve is making adjustments that work better for one to improve themselves.

So I thought to myself, have I changed…or evolved??

I certainly did not change because I am still me, but I just made some necessary adjustments to myself that were needed for me to become a better version of myself. I was so obsessed with the fact that I needed so many friends for validation and for putting so much of my energy into them when, in reality, that only hurts me. I decided to put that energy into myself, to evolve into a more secure person.

Now, I have a beautiful small circle where I feel so incredibly me. Comfortable, secure, and focused. The people I see who are worth my energy and focus are the ones I keep close to my heart. There’s no outgrowing them because we grow together.

I am evolving. Every day of my life. I would never change the person I am; I would only want to take the person that I am and improve more and more. I am so grateful for all the friends I have had throughout my life, even if I did outgrow them, because maybe they also outgrew me at one point. Life is so interesting, isn’t it?

If you enjoyed this article, please don’t forget to subscribe and comment below your thoughts!

Until next time, salam!

sincerely,

neelab <3

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Salam!

I came across this video on TikTok (credit goes to the creator of the video), and she asked, “How do you know Allah swt is pleased with you? In what way can we know that Allah swt loves us?” She gave several reasons and signs that I want to go over, but I also decided to do my own research on this topic as well. The main thing I learned from this research is that perspective is everything; a positive mindset is so very important. Let’s see why!

Allah is Al-Wadud

One of the 99 beloved names of Allah is Al-Wadud, the Most Loving, the Affectionate, the Beloved. No matter what, Allah swt is Al-Wadud always and forever, but only when YOU think of Him in that way, He will be the Most Loving. Why do I say that? It is because how we think of Allah is what He will be to us.

In a hadith, the Prophet pbuh said that Allah swt said that,

“I am as My servant thinks of Me”

If we truly believe Allah as the Most Forgiving or the Most Loving, then He is forgiving and loving. However, if we think of Him as the opposite, we will think He won’t forgive us or love us because of our mindset, but Allah is who He says He is; it is just a matter of truly believing that.

Signs Allah swt loves us

We will never know for sure Allah swt is pleased with us, as He only knows. But there are signs in which we may feel Allah loves us and there is Allah’s pleasure with us.

When He keeps bringing you back to him:

If you feel in your heart the guilt after a sin, the peace after a prayer, and/or the good feeling of wanting to do a good deed, then you are extremely blessed. Say Alhamdulillah because that is a sign of Allah’s love. It is truly hard to feel in these ways in this dunya.

These feelings can be so powerful because many may not feel guilt when doing a sin, and that guilt is what brings us to repent. A feeling that turns into action is Allah’s way of bringing us back to Him. The peace after a prayer makes us want to continue to do it more consistently. The desire of wanting to do good deeds or the resistance of a bad deed are all actions that help us become closer to Allah swt.

When you are afflicted with hardships

Why are we given trials and hardships? What good does it bring us? When you are afflicted with a trial, it is another sign of Allah’s love because it can teach you many lessons that you would have never learned without the trials you go through. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“If Allah wills good for someone, He afflicts him with trials.”

Going through hardships is not a punishment from Allah swt, however, if you think that, then you will believe it is a punishment. If you believe that Allah afflicts you with hardships to build your character and teach you patience, then Allah is truly the Most Loving because of the mere fact that it is for your benefit only.

When you do go through the pain of the hardships and trials, it can also expiate your sins. This is truly the love of Allah that he can take away your sins as you go through a hardship.

It is the fact that your sins are being forgiven every minute that you are patient and you trust in Allah’s plan until you find ease. You wouldn’t know the true sweetness of ease without the hardships you go through. It immediately makes you look at things more positively, which is a blessing. There is no one else in this dunya that can truly love and care for you like this than your own Creator.

Protection from what you think is good for you

When you lose friends, get rejected from jobs or schools, or even have something or someone that you thought was good for you be taken away from you, it is actually a sign that Allah loves you and wants to protect you. If Allah is granting you protection, it is a sign from Allah that He loves you and wants you to know that He truly knows what is best for you.

What more would we want than to have our Lord reassuring us that He protects and loves His servants through these signs? Especially if, in return, we always turn to Allah when we go through something unknown to us, trust in His plan, and have patience. We want to make sure we have these qualities because only Our Creator can truly help and protect us.

When you lose friends, it is because Allah swt heard something you didn’t, hence He is protecting you. When you get rejected, it is a redirection to a place that is much better for you that you don’t know yet. These are all signs that Allah loves you so much that He wants to make sure you are protected.

May Allah swt, Al-Wadud, always be pleased with all of us and love us. Truly, if you are struggling in any way, reflect and observe any of these signs of Allah’s love so that you may look at your hardships and life in a different light. We can try being grateful during our difficult times, especially if we believe Allah is al-Wadud and all of His 99 names; otherwise, we would miss out on an abundance of blessings in our lives.

There is good in every matter, but only if you see it that way. Perspective is everything!

I want to leave you with this hadith,

The Prophet pbuh said,

"Amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him." [Source: Sahih Muslim 2999']

Until next time, I’m signing off! Salam!

Thank you all for your support! I am so grateful to you all who take the time to read my writing.

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I can’t believe it is already June! May was a huge rollercoaster, but every year I find that May is my busiest month. Alhamdulilah, though, I am so grateful I have experienced this May. Looking back, I found so many great memories, and one of them was that I graduated with my teaching program!

At the beginning of every month, it is so crucial for me to reflect on what I really found joy in, so I come here and share my monthly favorites and reflect on them.

I truly believe that in order to find some sort of joy, it is to look at things with a positive view. Every month, I find something new or old that I love and realize how much I use or indulge in it frequently throughout the month. So, here are some of my May favorites!

Clothing:

Striped shirt from LOFT-

I have been on the hunt for 100% cotton clothing because I have learned that wearing anything other than cotton or any other breathable fabric is not safe. I see so many of my clothes made of polyester which is made up of plastic fibers which can degrade to microplastics, which is not safe nor breathable.

I have become so careful with what I buy nowadays and find myself shopping in more “expensive” shops but going into their clearence section! I found so many cotton fabrics for a great price. This is a shirt I have been wearing repeatedly this month. This is your sign to be an outfit repeater!

Two hijabs from velascarves-

Everytime I get even an ounce of gift money, I spend on hijabs…although I shouldn’t feel bad because I wear hijab everyday. I think of it as someone who buys hair product or hair accessories, this is my way of style.

These hijabs are pretty expensive, but I really love their prints (so I bought a few more with my grad money..oops). These hijabs were also worn quite frequently this month and I styled them in so many ways!

Products:

elf matte blush

This blush is one of my favorites right now, it is such a beautiful flush pink! As someone who doesn’t wear an enourmous amount of makeup everyday, this drugstore blush is enough to get me by. It matches my skintone more than any other blush I’ve tried!

dr. althea 345 cream-

Last month, one of my favorites was the mist, and now this month I am loving the cream. I actually tried this cream a while back and didn’t buy it again even though it worked so well for me. So I brought it back.

This is what I meant when I mentioned earlier about bringing in the old and the new and this product serves me more than it did the last time I bought it.

L’Occitane hand cream-

Now I may be influenced a bit much by other people, but truly I have never felt such moisture on my hands until I tried this handcream. I use it everyday and I have less dryness now! Definitely recommend if you have dry hands!

matcha milk scent by phlur-

I actually have been wanting this scent for a while now and when I finally bought it, I got so many compliements on this scent! I pair this mist with another perfume I have by YARA perfume and it makes me smell DIVINEEEE.

As someone who loves matcha, this was a steal.

salt & stone deoderant-

I have never really been the person to care about what deoderant I use, as long as I am fresh, I am all good. HOWEVER, I decided to splurge on a good deoderant and this one feels AMAZING. I love how fresh this makes me feel and smell. This was the only scent I liked, the other ones were not that great…definitely would buy again!

Hobbies:

I have many hobbies, but these two were the ones that I spent most of my time on!

mini watercolor set-

I was gifted with this mini watercolor set with the watercolor postcard paper by a sweet friend of mine and I have used it a lot more this month. It is so fun to take everywhere with me in my purse because of how travel size it is!

book of the month-

Once upon a broken heart by Stephanie Garber is actually a fun read! I say “is" because I am very close to finishing it, but I really liked this book. I think this book got me out of my reading slump and I am excited to read more books after this one.

I am building myself to be more of a reader of many types of books so this is me attempting. It does take me a while to finish a book as I read a few chapters every night, but let me know if anyone would like me to do a deep dive of this book!

That is all for my monthly May favorites! I am excited to see what June brings for me! Let me know in the comments if you have any of these!

Until next time! Salam!

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This letter is for my ambitious girlies who are passionate about experiencing everything, but feel unmotivated and fearful. I am one of them! For so long, I have wanted to start so many things, but I have feared that I would not succeed or be consistent. However, I learned a few things, and I wanted to share them with you. So grab your coffee or tea and a notebook!

P.S. This newsletter is also my way of holding myself accountable!

I am a huge procrastinator, but at the same time, I can be a perfectionist when it comes to starting new things I’ve planned for a long time. I always wondered why I am like this. Is there something wrong with me? If I am never starting because I’m scared, should I just give up? I asked myself all sorts of questions. I found that the root of the problem isn’t because of my fear, but because I was thinking about so many things at the same time, which hindered me from starting. I was overwhelmed. So I did what most people do: I journaled my frustrations. As I was writing, I found that I am not focusing on just one goal I can accomplish, but I am focusing on multiple goals and their end results.

At the beginning of 2026, I promised myself I would do more side quests, and in hopes of those side quests becoming my main quests in life. However, I took a different approach. I focused on one thing and just getting it started, not worrying about how it will end or if I will succeed. Just starting, so I have something I can work with. But, for many, starting is the hardest part. As a Muslim, I believe that anything I do or want to start, I should start with setting my intentions for it, praying to God, and believing that this is something I know God will provide for me. The first step to starting anything we want to explore and experience is to set our intentions. What is your “why”? Then, communicating that to Allah (swt) that this is what I am putting out into my world and asking for guidance and abundance in it. This step is so incredibly important because once you talk to Allah (swt) about it, you have set that intention, and it feels like an already established moment that whatever you desire will happen in some shape or form. Because if Allah swt hadn’t written, in that moment, for you to make dua for what you dream of doing, then you wouldn’t have made dua for it, right? Setting that intention is like planting a seed in the earth and watching it slowly grow as you put work and effort into growing it. It is like changing something within yourself in order to change your environment and everything that surrounds you in order to do the thing you want to experience.

In the Quran, it says, “Indeed Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves” (13:11).

So once we make dua for it, we have to work for it, right? It won’t work if we sit here and do not do what WE can. The rest is truly in Allah's hands, but if we do our part, the rest will fall into our hands. So the next step is to build that evidence. Evidence of you starting the small baby steps to get to where you want to be. For example, I have been wanting to start a Substack for a while. I’ve always been an observer and never thought that I could be someone who could write about my interests. But, because I have been wanting to experience it and come out of my comfort zone, I decided I didn’t want to be some loser in my own story. So I set my intentions for it, made dua for it, wrote about it in my journal, and began just writing something small to collect evidence that I am working towards something I have been wanting to start for a long time. Now, I am here writing this, and it feels so very surreal to me that I have gained so many new subscribers and that I am capable of doing and not just waiting around. It’s not perfect, but honestly, perfect is so overrated, right? Only Allah (swt) is truly perfect, and only we can strive for improvement every day. So, it all starts with intention, working towards it in small steps, and finally, in the last step, is to leave the rest to Allah (swt). Once I realized this, I felt like I could do anything and everything I wanted to do. Create a community using social media platforms, consistently writing on Substack, starting a podcast, building a dream career, and many more, all because I decided to look at my goals in a different way. Not in the way of fear, but in the way of what my intentions are and trusting in God’s plan.

If you are anything like me, comment below what your reasons are for not starting? What are some things you are ambitious or passionate about? I would love to know! I also hope this was helpful in some way!

Until next time, I’m signing off!

Yours Truly,

Neelab <3

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Looking back on the month, I think about the things that have made my month memorable, whether it be something I bought new or something that resurfaced. When I look back, I smile because I remember how much joy it brought me, and also because I definitely know I took a picture of it to remember it by. So here are some things I loved and will continue to love throughout the year in sha Allah!

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Skincare:

Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Mist

Ever since I switched over to korean skincare my skin has healed so much. I have suffered from acne for so many years and Alhamdulilah my skin has never looked better! But this product has made my skin so glowy MashaAllah because I have been on a HUNT for one and this really is magic in a bottle. This paired with the moisturizer cream? UNSTOPPABLE.

Apps:

FocusTown

This app is just so darling! I am obsessed with the cute animations and the visual outlook of this app. It helps me stay so focused and motivated to work on homework or anything I need to stay focused on. I definitely get distracted by everything, so I have been enjoying the whimsy of studying. It essentially is an app where you can create your avatar, and the more study sessions you do (very similar to the pomodoro timers!), the more you can upgrade your style and place of focus! You can invite friends to study with you!

Fits

This app has been my favorite because it is so helpful for an indecisive girly like me who can’t seem to pick an outfit in the morning. I took pictures of my entire wardrobe and put together pieces of clothing to create an outfit. I honestly had so much fun just putting together the outfits. It has a planner feature where I can choose what I wear for the week. Definitely would not gatekeep this, it is so helpful!

Things I use:

FURYCUBE IP98 Keyboard (wireless)

After passing a huge assessment, I decided to treat myself to something I have been wanting, and it was a new keyboard that felt satisfying on my fingertips and my ears. The thocky sounds of the keyboard are my favorite, as well as the fun lights. I have so much fun typing away my assignments, and even right now as I’m writing this. The best purchase I have ever made!

What I listened to:

as you are podcast by sarsurahsarah

I have recently been listening to a podcast named “as you are” by sarsurahsarah on Instagram! She is such a breath of fresh air; her podcast is just so relatable and deep. She talks about different parts of being a hijabi Muslim young girl in her 20s, and she gives such great advice for young Muslim girls. The recent episode she talked about comparison and feeling behind in your 20s, and I feel like it came at such a great time, especially in my life right now. She brings me such peace and comfort; sometimes, I feel like I am on a FaceTime with her when I listen to her podcast during my commute to school. I definitely recommend her podcast to all the girlies!

What I drank:

nami matcha

I got this new matcha tin from nami matcha for my little sister’s birthday. We both had our eye on it for a while but always refrained because of how expensive it is! :O However, because it was a special occasion, I decided to buy it for the both of us and I am so glad I did because I enjoyed about a months worth of homemade matcha. It has such a rich and nutty flavor and the color is just such a beautiful green! I just wish it wasn’t so pricey for such a small tin :( but I am so glad I enjoyed it for this month! I mean just look at that color!

What I wore:

Olive Ombre by Vela Scarves

This is such a beautiful colored hijab! I had my eye on this as well for a while and when I got some Eid money (iykyk) I decided to get this hijab and I am just obsessed. it is a bit see through as many of the other hijabs are, but I find the “wrap-around” look helps! Definitely wore this hijab a lot this month and I am excited to create more outfits with it! One of the parts of being a hijabi that I love is buying myself hijabs and creating cute outfits for it!

Things I did:

Sketching in my journal:

I am trying to reconnect with my creative side a bit after being in a such a slump for a while, and I am planning on a new painting soon! This sketch is an idea and vision I have for my painting. I wonder if anyone would be interested in my process. If so, I would loooove to share! I want to do more sketches, I miss doing them and I want to incorporate it into my routine for stress-relief. I have many plans for this painting so I’m excited to get it going!

Alhamdulilah always!

That’s it for my April favorites! I hope May brings us all fun whimsy things that we love and we can share it out! May this month bring positivity and comfort for us all! Til my next letter, stay positive and stay whimsy!

Sincerely,

Neelab<3

I am 23 years old, and I am Afghan-American, born and raised in the States. I love anything creative, be it art, crafting, journaling, or writing. I enjoy reading books (although I am in a bit of a slump), watching movies, anime, and kdramas. I love fashion, and, honestly, anything cute and aesthetic. I also love coffee and matcha! I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and am just finishing my teaching credential program in a few weeks! I absolutely love taking pictures of anything and creating aesthetics. Although I only have a few subscribers on here and I just started, I hope to grow my following more and create a cute, fun, and cozy community on here with some girlies! So if you have similar interests, I hope you can subscribe, and we can romanticize this journey of life together!!

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I like to think I am a pretty ambitious person who wants to do so much, but I always end up not doing it because I am a big procrastinator, but the passion is there. I’m not sure if anyone else feels that way, but one of the things I really have been wanting to do and be consistent with is creating my own substack and building a warm community on here so we can inspire and cheer each other on. I am really glad I am working on this finally, and I hope to be consistent with it. I am working on building an Instagram that is a platform for me to share all my interests, so that is something else I have been wanting to do. Once that is created, I will definitely let you guys know!

I named my Substack “my letter to you” because I want this to feel like we are writing letters to each other and journaling my thoughts and topics I want to write that can be inspiring and uplifting to my girlies. I like to talk about deep topics and reflect on things I feel deeply about, so I want my articles and writing to be like a letter written to you all! I have so many more things I want to do and talk about, so I am excited about this journey, and I hope you can join me as well!! Til my next letter, stay cute and stay positive!

Yours Truly,

Neelab <3

I was bored just scrolling through Substack, reading everyone’s posts, when I thought to myself, “Wow, I haven’t journaled in such a long time.” It’s been a year since I last journaled in my favorite journal book. It’s not because I don’t like journaling anymore, it’s because my mind gave journaling the role of a task rather than an escape place. This past year has been busy, and I haven’t given much thought to writing down my feelings, thoughts, and goals. I was slowly staggering in this thing that I used to love. I saw it as a burden when I just needed to shift my mindset about journaling back to how I used to utilize this fascinating tool.

I looked in my drawers and found my favorite journal. I looked through it, smiling at my experiences and thoughts from last year. She is so different from the me now. I thought to myself, “Why don’t I just continue to write in it? I don’t need to buy a new book just because it’s a whole year ahead". The point of a journal is not to perfect it but to utilize its power to see the shift and the evolution in ourselves. We obviously have free will, and we can write in our unfinished journal that was left to capture some dust. So that is what I did, and it felt so great. It made my journal so imperfect that there is no room to give journaling the role of a task or a burden.

In my journal, I’ve sectioned it into two parts: one section for what I learned from various and random sources, ideas I have, and brain dumps. The second section is a section for journaling my thoughts, feelings, goals, and updates about my life. Reading back on things I’ve taken notes on and what I’ve learned from a random Substack post or a YouTube video was so eye-opening to read back on. It’s about relearning things we learned in the past because we tend to forget, so writing things down is so helpful and can refresh our minds.

I know I will look back at this journal when I finish it and learn from my past self what I need to know for my future self. How much I’ve evolved, and certain things I need to relearn or unlearn from my past. Journaling is such a powerful tool. For those who journal or who are like me and stop from time to time, we cannot abandon it; otherwise, we can risk losing our fullest potential.

A YouTuber I watch all the time that always gets me back on my feet is Bahja Abdi. She is amazing, and I completely recommend watching her videos and learning how to rewire your brain and become the best version of yourself. She always gives such great journal prompts, and I wanted to share some of the journal prompts she gave in her latest video (you should also watch her videos, credits go to her).

What labels have you picked up because of your past experiences?

Think of one area in your life where you feel stuck.

Are you holding on to a story from your past that’s stopping how you see your future?

What would change if you let go of that story?

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hijab is an essential part of a Muslimah’s life, wherever and whenever you are in your deen. hijab is a choice and a full-time commitment. it is not easy, but it is immensely rewarding. i started wearing the hijab at 13 years old, right when i was about to go into 8th grade (worst grade level ever…). i’ve worn it ever since but in these past 10 years it has been an up and down experience and it still is. i think any hijabi would say that they have struggled or are struggling right now, but that struggle is a huge sign that one is trying. it is seen by our Lord and it is accepted by our Lord who Sees all. so here are some lessons that i’ve personally learned that has helped me get through this experience:

1. you will never be ready

no one is truly ever ready to wear it. one might feel ready to wear but not to struggle. however, it’s that feeling one gets to want to wear it. that feeling is already a huge sign that there is a desire to wear it for the sake of Allah. however, the journey is not always linear as it’s normal to struggle with it. that struggle is apart of that reward. if you want to wear it but you aren’t feeling 100% ready, that’s your sign to jump right into it. because if you aren’t feeling ready when is the right time? with how the world is looking right now, we never know when our time might be up. it’s the hard truth i know, but the one thing we can count on is dying while being covered for the sake of Allah or even just having that intention. you don’t want your first time being covered to be in your grave..

2. having the desire to take it off and not feeling “pretty”

i’ve went through hard times myself with not feeling pretty enough, even when I tried all types of styles. this feeling is normal, especially when our hair holds our beauty. But why try so hard to be beautiful to this temporary world when you are and can be effortlessly beautiful in front of our Creator? the world may not be accepting, but our Lord is. whenever i struggle to cover my neck or i want to make it looser, i try to do the complete opposite. i fight my ego and rewire my brain to fight this battle between me and the temptations. this takes discipline, but you will feel so much better about yourself in the long run with no regret or guilt.

3. starting small and working your way up

whether at the beginning stage or even when you want to try to be better at covering, starting small and working towards wearing it better is key to continue wearing it long term with confidence. wearing hijab is a full-time commitment, but going right into it can be tough, so i learned that if you are thinking of wearing it, then wearing hijab to grocery stores or on a quick errand run is a great practice to get the feel of it. For my hijabis that want to try full coverage, wear a full coverage style to certain places you know you would wear it looser, like maybe at a party or out with friends. this will help make it more comfortable to slowly wear it with full coverage. baby steps will turn into long-term. this also can go for what clothes we wear too, from fitted to more looser.

4. refresh/remind yourself of your intentions

why do we wear it? who are we wearing it for? asking yourself these questions rewires your brain to rethink your intentions, giving you the opportunity to love the hijab more because of its meaning. looking in the mirror and asking yourself, “i am wearing this for the sake of Allah, i am a representation of our ummah”. it may be a huge responsibility, but we have to think about our akhirah often, it’s the one place of eternal happiness, so make your life here worthy of paradise. hijab is our crown, and we have to wear it proudly.

5. hijab is not just about covering your hair

there is more to hijab than covering our hair. i learned this the hard way as i started wearing hijab at a young age, where everyone wanted to fit in. being modest in what we wear, how we act, and speak is all part of the package. but many people take this the wrong way and say “so are hijabis just not allowed to have personality? God forbid a girl can show her personality and have fun” but no we are most definitely allowed to show our personality because it’s what makes us human and unique but there is a certain time and place for everything and we want to represent Islam in a good way.

lastly i want to wish every struggling hijabi and muslimahs who are thinking of wearing it to have strength and courage to wear it proudly. struggling and succeeding is our ticket to eternal happiness. wear it to make our creator proud, because He is the one who will accept you for who you are. May Allah (swt) grant us all ease in our struggles and accept our intentions!

disclaimer: these are just some of my opinions and lessons that i learned and have worked for me! if they you think differently that’s totally okay! i would love to read some of your own opinions and maybe some lessons you’ve learned! this is also my first substack post, so i am not that great at writing, so i hope that anyone who does read this takes that into consideration! i just love to write about deep topics, so more posts about different things will come soon!

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