Ramadan Reset #13 Quran Connection – Nusaiba Mohammad Timol

Welcome to Ramadan reset with me Your host Lauren booth. This podcast series is sponsored by what tan.org.uk delivering services to Syrians in need.

Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. So my guest today is a wonderful sister who I met in London just a few months ago and have now become a firm fan of her work Mashallah. So to say but Mohammed tamale and the sacred is the founder and director of wow Creative Arts, that's w AE W. And this is the world's first dedicated Islamic creative art school and it was established in London, UK, we're going to be hearing more about that inshallah. Very exciting to me as an actor to know that finally, I get to teach Muslim students but not acting. But the ways to use skills from that way of life. For

the best

mistake was working profile within the modest fashion industry has been featured on a number of mainstream platforms such as BBC channel for Vogue and the Evening Standard. And the Sabre has also been recognized as one of the 100 most inspirational Muslims in the UK by the Emerald network. We're going to talk a little bit inshallah, after I introduce you about a certain a certain competition that you want, but I just want to greet you my dear sister as salaam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu Welcome to Ramadan reset learning with Salaam Lauren, thank you so much for having me. How are you? handling? I'm fine. I'm totally into the flowers next to you. Can you help me? freshly

picked at a freshly picked?

Really nice wash our you know what says I think what's really fascinating is to let people know that you were the first female winner of the Islam channel's first national karate competition in 2006. How old were you when you won that competition? So the competition started when I was 12. And it went on for a whole year. So those various stages, it was a very long process, challenging, but in a very positive way or from the law. And it ended when I was 13. So the final was what I was actually 13 years old, which is now 1414 years ago. Yeah, so a long time ago, but I've seen it, the National ocean is still happening. And it's so beautiful to see how it's progressed and how many more female

researchers have come about and you know, taking the stage, the space on the stage.

It's just been an incredible journey to see that actually Subhana Allah and you're right that we had the meriam Amir I call it the Maryam Amir, that's her Instagram handle Maryam Amir Shekar she prefers Stadler, but Allahu Allah, and she has been encouraging sisters to recite aloud in the most beautiful pronunciation, particularly during this Ramadan and giving us really space to enjoy our voices with and interact with the color and in that way, Mashallah sabbatical? Have you been following that? Yeah, I've been working with now actually. And those are some of my work and it's incredible what she's doing, you know, just encouraging female fighters, you know. And you see,

like, just one platform and a space has allowed females just gather and send their work and it's very encouraging. But, you know, over the years, there has been challenges as female scientists. And you know, for me personally, over this lockdown period, I've actually done a lot more with citation myself and re citation videos that people have requested for many years, but I hadn't had the opportunity to have time to do so.

Simply because, you know, you're so busy in this like London life, you know, working and doing so many things. And this lockdown has become like a blessing in disguise, you know, so all the things that we couldn't do, or didn't have the time or opportunity to do. We're doing now. So I've been posting a lot of citation recently, and I've also revived my youtube channel

just during the lockdown, which had been

inactive for maybe around 13 years. Yeah, so the last time anything was, it was when I was

you know, in the competition, and once I posted a video recently, the amount of love I've received and the amount of people who have messaged me, you know of like reciting from your videos, but could you please finish

Cuz there's the videos have, like, you know, are they're beginning, obviously, middle because that's how the competition was. And you know, many people have started reciting polyclonal citation, but they haven't been able to complete it. So ensure that that's really my intention now to complete those videos and, you know,

fulfill everyone's requests that have been coming through for many years. So I'm really looking forward to that, we are going to get into some amazing subjects in the show, inshallah to Allah, all about how a young sister goes to be a cardi, if that's the the right term for a sister, I love to ask, and her journey and into the arts as well, and how that can impact our children and our future. And the way we look at creativity. When a sister is young and beautiful, and on the dean and has a nice voice, something happens shaytan gets in there, in so many different ways, we watch it time and time again. And suddenly, the pull to take off her job, the pull to be that bit more fashionable

bye, bye, maybe you know, by by leaving the way of life behind, or maybe becoming a pop star. Does any of that resonate with you?

I mean,

I personally, for me, the journey I've taken was very intentional. It was a an urge from my surroundings, I've always from a very young age, I've been both creative and uphold the law, I've always had the urge to be a be a part of the DNA, learn and educate myself and make a positive change, you know. So I would say compassion has always been something that is a part of me from a young age, and my parents have really been okay with it and pushed it. But it was the intention that allowed them to be okay with it, I guess because, for me, it wasn't, oh, I want to, you know, be involved in the fashion industry just because it's cool. And I want to be part of like the fashion

shows,

and go to events and, and so on, I have cool friends.

But mainly, the real intention behind it was that there hasn't been someone in the space space that is also in the creative, and especially fashion industry. And that connects the two and merges these two and for me, it was really important to allow the young generation to resonate with me and

want to look at me as a role model for them to really connect, right. And I find me approachable. I think a lot of the times, we have this separation between the two industries. So a lot of young generation who want to be fashionable, who want to, you know, post things and be cool, but also want to learn a little bit about the team, but they still like all maybe I may be judged, or I was at the end, they don't find it easy to approach, you know, certain figures. So I wanted to be that thing that shows young generation, especially females that you can do both, right, I'm here, if you need any help in either of those, let's connect, let's really make a difference, positive or positive

change in our society, and, you know, merge match that you want to build a bridge between the two. So from a young age, that's really been my attention span. People look at it in different ways, but the 100 lines, that

I've always got a positive response.

Here, you know, a lot of when I say that was my challenges, but it's been a positive challenge,

a challenge that's making me a better person. So just for example, if I take the competition, you know, it was a whole year ago, and it was very challenging, but not because, you know, it's my channel didn't

want females to grow further. And I really, I really appreciate that they, they were the first to actually have a constitution where females were allowed to take part. And, you know, go this far, you know, if it wasn't for them, it wouldn't become this law right and it will get encouraged so many other female reciters

but again, it was possible, because we had to do so many stages, like I had to learn how to do various citations like Tokyo and so on and actually visual food

which was just like, oh my god, how crazy is this? Right? We had to we had to do you know memories of different Jews and they would recite like an IR from anywhere. So there's been challenges the news being so close to them that made them

more stronger, and make me a better researcher. Similarly, in the fashion industry, you know, when I first got involved in the creative arts,

people were a bit confused, like, oh, you're, you're a fighter, you know, you're, you're part of this community. Why are you Why are you doing this, you know, it was a confusion, but I was actually voted that

is that there's

so many different events that

I dressed up like this. And besides, you know, I used to go to TV and decide to dress up like this, in the first year, or second year or so, it was a little bit like a shock to the system. But because I, I never, you know, let that kind of stop my journey. And I never let people kind of comment,

stop my journey to making a positive change, they agree with me,

they really followed the journey and realize, actually, she's not doing this just to kind of

have a say, about

this, she's, she's doing any part for the generation for us to be involved with the Western community and show them what they're really about, without any, let them see things as it is. So, hopefully, that's been my dream, but I do feel like you mentioned that a lot of people are going through this,

you know, dilemma of whether to, you know, take a job or whether to be

cool, or whether to do this and everything. And I feel like, you know, it's all about discipline, and

you know, it's really hard as a young person in the society to have the right

to, to kind of, you know, like, put those for those for those negative energy or questions and, you know, sports just by they really have a direction. So I would say that's really because of how fast paced life is and how fast social media, right? But, you know, we have to always remember, what is our intention, and for me, one of the key things has been inspiration from Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, that his leadership qualities, and how he treated people and how he emerged, and how he, you know, had so much compassion as, as a leader, how He looked at his team, I really got people involved. So that's always been my inspiration, the leadership qualities.

I think, if you have one minute ago, it really helps you connect all the dots.

Yeah, that's really, really, that's really fascinating. Mashallah, what you said about the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taking society with him,

towards Allah to Allah. That's the thing. I try. I mean, like, you know, as, as we all are, I think we're all at different stages in life. And it's really important, like I said, to have that one connection that you always,

you know, because it is in this part of it is so easy to get distracted. You know, as they don't listen, they know how to structure your days, you know, there's, there's certainly people that I've seen myself with so many, like, influential, influential friends that I've had kind of

dropped out of who they started as, and it's not to me, but when I have conversations, it is because, you know, there's not had one focal point. And certainly the focal point, I guess, is, you know, what I would say some huge lesson from the last one, I thought that because even at every stage in my life, I have noticed that there's something that will happen, that always gets me back to

that urge of learning more about, you know, one major thing and you know, what?

It means, for example, just this blessing of reciting

fifth grade,

although I've been teaching behind the scenes, I've taken a break from social media and say, I, you know, I've been teaching, and I was young and elderly, online and offline, at the school. So I've been I've just not posted about it, right. And I've had so many people messaged me, but again, now, at this stage of my life, there's something else Give me that lesson and the energy and the focal point to say, you know, what, you need to push this move to, you know, get back to encouraging people to really fulfill those requests, because people still have that mission.

It's nice to know that people actually have been in this journey with me from when I was little

It's been around 1415 years, right? I'm married. I've got these kids.

Over, you know, everything but you know, it's just amazing, I think

is key. Right? I love that. That's really important. I want to welcome somebody very special on to the group below in the comments, Eva or Evie. She's from Germany. And Eva says, Thank you. I appreciate a lot how you convey the message of Islam. She entered Islam two weeks ago, and has taken the job straightaway and feels really proud to wear it, Marshal assister You are welcome. You have just made the best deal of the century, you have just been given a gift which is weightier than the whole world, you have just been accepted to the closeness of Allah to Allah, which you can convey to others in time. And Charlotte, if Allah wills you are now full of light and full of life. So this

and in Ramadan, of course, in Ramadan, the blessing month, Sister, I wonder if you have a message, and then we're going to go and talk about Syria and the work of what and so stay tuned how you can help inshallah, so sister a hit job, being new to Islam, give us a message. Eva, first, I want to say congratulations. I mean, this is a huge step, Mashallah. And I'm so happy that you have joined us. And, you know, you're, you're one of us now. And honestly, this will be it will be challenging, but it's, it's going to be one of the best things that you've done. And again, like I said, to be honest, if you need any encouragement, it's really an help. Please do contact me, I'm, I'm here as a

sister, and I'm here as a young person. I know, I myself have had a one day job all my life. But I do know the challenges. And if you need any sort of support and encouragement, in anything, I'm here.

When you think about organizations you can trust it's based on making a real difference to the people that they're meant to serve. I support will turn UK because their programs lift Syrians out of misery, they've just constructed two new villages for internally displaced people in Kapha jealous, which is an ad lib sub district, these new camps, they have schools, clinics, decent accommodation, real sanitation, and educational opportunities for internally displaced children and adults, you can support the continued running of these services right now by going to attend org.uk. May Allah bless you.

For example, right now and thoroughly I absolutely love enjoy, I love and enjoy reading out loud, because it just really gets me into the zone. And like, you know that, you know, in that meditating zone, there's just me a lot, and I'm speaking for less my brother and the words when you respect correctly, and when you read beautifully, no,

we are meant to recite the beautiful language used by the dissertation because the words are so strong, and the words have so much meaning. And when you decide like that, I every time it gets an emotion every time it really, you know, it makes me think

that I need to be a better Muslim, I need to be a better person, everything that I haven't done,

even if those words aren't meaning that but it's just something happens in that moment. And, you know, Allah tells you, you are reciting my words, you are you are my servants, and you need to connect back. And it's just

getting emotional to speak about it. No, it's just to give you that basic feeling. And I've always encouraged reciting beautifully and reciting correctly because

it really just changes the meaning of the code.

And how about the the learning for those of us who are who are starting out, because it's a very different process, and we should approach it differently. It's not a win lose. It's not a linear process. It is you take a step you have I find personally and everybody's journey to the Quran is different. I have one good day, and then I seem to keep one step back and 99 back, you know, just one step forward every so often. But then you have moved forward. And then there's a little opening. And then there's a chink of of that of, of collectivity of really love. Because it's not about the Koran giving to us. It's about us respecting the quarter and I think it's the way we come to it,

isn't it? Yeah, I think you know, I can speak from my experience. You know, I studied in Saudi Arabia and when I was young, so of course, like for those to Austin young, I'd encourage you to like this or for everyone. You know, we started reciting

Without knowing any type of meatballs, right, without learning anything, just by listening to it correctly, just listening to it and following our teacher, so a young age, I was just, you know, my mom is also a

teacher. So, you know, I come home practice with her, my grandma. And you know, if all I did was recite after I pick up the sounds pick up like bass and calf and everything, I never knew any

tools up until actually the competition, and I was forced to learn it because that was part of the competition, you know?

I don't want to is too much for that, I'd say. Because if you learn to drink first, I know it is. It is understandable. But a lot of people learn by just listening. So I'd encourage is, that is that kind of one of the strong points that many people don't follow. But listening really gets me to pick up on all the sounds, you know, like with singing as well, similarly, you have to have a conventional ear,

you have to pick up on the notes is the same thing as being able to listen to every citation and repeat and listen, and we repeat this, you know, so that's what I did. And that's what I encourage to my students also. And, you know, especially with beautifying the presentation, you know, I have a lot of students who want to recite like me, and what I do in those lessons is actually input singing lesson along with the presentation, so many, many people, you know, how does that work, but because it is very similar, you know, when you take your breathing is very important, you're warming up your vocals very important, you know, because warming up your work, or allows all of the signs that

you can actually do your art that is one of those readings, you can actually complete the sentence better. I myself have asthma, and it's been a struggle with my breathing. So it's very important for people like me, but also everyone else to practice those breathing. So I think, you know, the steps for new researchers, I'd say, is definitely to do those, those exercises, and then get into just listening, reciting, and repeat your practice. And eventually you pick up on so much. And then you can go into more depth of what the thinking is why this exists, what that what that means. And then definitely meaning, you know, what you're reading because that that is something we miss out on.

Especially a lot of people around me, everything I'm going to complete. Why is once you know, this month, I've taken that journey that I'm not going to complete the Quran, I'm going to complete reading as much meaning of what Allah

isn't. It is arbic is very difficult language to read the Quranic Arabic, you know, every word has a root word. And then you have to figure out what the root word really means is not just the meaning itself, you know, root words where that root word came from and so on. So cool. Yeah, although here's the fascinating thing, Allah to Allah has promised to make it easy, which means that, you know, you know, when you notice that the end of the day, it's far how fair

How does that happen? How incredible is it? No wonder they thought it was poetry. So because of that lyricism, it's actually easy to retain. So once you look at it, like a like a retention model, like a worship model, and a retention, model, and flow, and listen, is there's a real learning process of ease, there isn't the

way that you'll notice as soon as I have a little one, and just automatically when you're reading, it sounds more, there's more, it sounds like poetry, it sounds like a song, right?

That holding the two so the way you really notice, notice each of those notes, I would say that that will connect with a lot of people, it really changes the way you read, and it will make it make it a lot more because you will you will feel like you feel like you actually understand it. You'll feel connected to it a lot more because it's kind of speaking to your own way your own language, if that makes sense. So, yeah, that's one of the things that that's how I learned the Quran. And then I went into memorizing

formulas. And you know, but like I said, I actually never met the dream up until when I was a lot older. And that's just how it works. And it works for a lot of people and then when I teach they don't,

my my students that's what I do. I start with you know, of course your your lessons and you know,

pronounciation but I don't go into the depth of where exactly, they're just the basics, you know, you have the basics. But the complete my heritage is that we haven't we don't cover it until, like a lot older, but they can be.

Let's, I want to talk a little bit about how we're spending Ramadan in lockdown and how has it been for you? Sister has the house locked down? Yeah, I mean, like I said earlier, I think Ramadan in lockdown has been a blessing, complete lesson for me. Because growing up when I'm when, when I need to know, in Saudi Arabia

during Ramadan, like work, because who was close, you know, the families were at home. And, you know, since I got married, I haven't had my husband home during Ramadan during the day, and he'll just come just before it's our, and it's been so, so lovely to have the holder, although we are working from home, but just being at home, being able to pray holds a lot, you know, in peace.

You know, and have that moment, you know, just a slow moment to really do evader has been such a blessing. And you know, just sitting there before is done not rushing, and being able to, you know, recite, watching you and so has has really been a blessing. And what we've done actually at home, is compartmentalize the house

you know, upstairs we have we made prayer

glasses or for some of our favorite friends of ours and, you know, my prayer mat and everything. So it's just a really nice getting it space. And I feel for me, environment really changes

process, and it really changes how I feel, you know, I don't know if you would agree. So

upstairs, and then you know, our dining areas, of course, a lot more online. And it's, it's where we have

where we, we, you know, it's all about food. And then we after prayer, we'll come back downstairs in the city area. And again, the seating area, organized it with like books, where we have our own time to just educate ourselves, learn more about our religion. And we have chosen a book to read. So each of those rooms we've created.

So don't go crazy during lockdown, like people are saying, you know,

to have this

is just how you compartmentalize that. And there's some people don't like that.

And

honestly, little prayer

just changes how we pray. Rather than just putting that out there in any kind of environment just takes you to like our brothers go to the table, you know, pray does really feel it feels like your connection to a lot on a different level. One of the greatest because one of the greatest was is Al Hamdulillah. So, sister who's new to Islam, and if you're, if you're struggling with you know, sometimes we get books and we think it's too much and we make Islam a subject that's beyond us. You need one word Alhamdulillah all praise and thanks to Allah, that is a word that you hear a lot from refugees, believe it or not, Subhan Allah because when Allah takes, he also gives the kina when he

takes physically, he gives awareness, and he gives way back to him. So I mean, it like you mentioned earlier about, you know, gratitude, I think this is it's, it's, it's so kind of a it's such a important thing for us. And we're during this lockdown, a lot of us are realizing that, oh, you know, we were we're realizing that we have things so easily, right? We go to Tesco, and we we get, you know, everything

just locally, and it's so important now, especially that we've we've just tasted a tiny amount of what, you know, our brothers and sisters around especially in Syria, around the world that they're going through just experience a small bit and I hope we you know, we realize that how blessed we are. And we feel that compassion, you know, one of those that you know, the prophets are some of

the most important leadership's filled with compassion and compassion meaning that we care for others that do care for people around them. And we really need to

feel that we really need to be compassionate, compassionate about people around us so for our brothers and sisters around the world, and it's really important to care. The same as we care for ourselves and as our for our family or our siblings or kids. That we care the same for people in Syria and

I think it's really, really amazing what you are doing.

Lauren, for what time, it's, it's so beautiful to see, and I quote in shuttle that everyone does donate because like I said, it's really important that we we give the smallest amount of hope, the smallest amount of

happiness. And you know, this will this will take us, this will this will be written by our angels this will be written by the angels that have sat here, this will be others watching everything that we're doing and inshallah this could be the pathway for us to ensure the intimate and job that all of us together mean encourage everyone to enjoy the journey because it makes a huge difference for them. And it may not be something small out of our pockets, but it does make a huge difference for those people in Syria who are suffering.

What is absolutely amazing to me Sister, even after 10 years as a Muslim and continually were amazed by the quarter and it's how much Allah to Allah knows us how he has always given us in his incentivised the deen, he's made our hearts he's forced our hearts to be good. But then he's also incentivized it. So either way. So if we want to give just I feel so much love for you right now. Oh Allah, and I love the Prophet peace upon him. I'm just ready to give. And if we also have the recognition of I need to go to general I need to be with you. Allah says, Well, this same way is charity. Exactly what you want there. Right, which is to give with the heart. But you want to go to

Jana, the two things are the same. And these are the steps I find that absolutely it's the methodology.

several places in the

in Surah Baqarah, of course, talk about charity, I'm just going to share a few now because it's always important for us as Muslims to go back back back, always to the source of our religion. This smilla Rahmanir Rahim. be steadfast in prayer, practice regular charity, and bow down your heads without those who bow down. That's in Surah Baqarah 43. What is amazing about that is you've got the endorsement to be steadfast in prayer. So give Allah His Jew. All right, do what is far do what you must do. But in a daily process. And on the other side, you've got bowed down your heads with those who bow down to join the congregation be amongst those right in the middle practice regular charity.

So it's as if you don't get to skip, you don't get to be with those you don't get to be with that group. Unless you do the middle part, which is which is to give charity, that's how you become to start off on your own be steadfast in prayer, practice, regular charity, is the route to becoming a part of the community allow it? And it's what holds our community together. Yeah, absolutely. And it's been charity we've been you know, it's, it's so beautiful. Like, it's bringing us back and giving us chances

to fulfill those. And, you know, like, you don't have to, if you don't have the means, like was beautiful about our religions, if you don't have the means of interaction, you may just want to have the ability to get 10 pounds. But the intention may be that a lot I want to, you know, I want this to help a whole family for a whole month, and Allah will give Baraka in that temple. So whatever it is that you have means of giving, you know, for those of us who have the means of giving more, please do give. But those who don't, don't be discouraged because it's the intention alone.

In the Quran several times that it's our intention, our intention is to be pure, our intention is to be clear, our intention is to be good. And as long as that intention is there, then everything you do, will, will will will double or triple. And you don't know how much profit alone.

Like, for me, one of the, you know, encouraging stories, that is that there was once a

female

prostitute that, you know, she was drinking water. And there was a dog there by her side who was dying of thirst. And that was the only water left and she thought, actually, he felt that deep, that compassion that I was talking about that i i felt this thirst and I want to feed I know what the feelings are and then share that water and she has entered on that. Right? And so we we we judge and we think Oh no, we have to have the highest ability we have to have the best way of doing things and you know, this person getting 1000 pounds, we have to do it. No. It's your intention, what you really feel and if it's correct, even that will make a difference even if somehow maybe

Either way, because I'm not in the maximum, how many do better than the other person but you always have. So don't be discouraged. Please, always get as you as you can. Allah is the most Gracious, Most merciful and loving. So if you have that deep love for your brothers and sisters, and if you have that deep love for people around you, you will get that back, you will surely get that back in every stage of your life. You know, I feel like that from experience, you know,

you will get that blessing in various ways and,

you know, will come to you, maybe, maybe you made one now in your company 20 years later because of equity.

intention. So don't be discouraged and be patient and know that a lot a lot is seeing and loving. And you know, that that's really my message. And that's what I do feel.

Muscle we were going to, to wind up with a wonderful treat for everybody by the grace of Allah says to you, you're going to recite some Surah Fatiha and ayat al kursi. inshallah to Allah So, we'd love to hear that video. I will be

sharing

this

now you will be

Ceylon.

Hi.

Oh,

well,

wonderful.

Most

thank you so much sister for bringing the correns light alive to us. What sounds are able to be made with the human voice? I teach voice training as sister knows, as well. And that alone the fact that there are cords over which vibrates that then take a form to reach their ear is so miraculous.

Yeah, I mean, I wanted to

just just encourage that it was way too late. Please do otherwise everyone that, you know, I can preserve this.

You know, you know, see for our community, I can encourage more, I can teach more. In sha Allah, I do pray that all of us can read and understand the words of Allah subhanaw taala and really feel what it feels like connection and what I was trying to sell this. And I do pay for Omar. I pray that we all are our you know, at the same stage, we're happy where we're together, we're smiling, we have food, we have shelter, I pray for everyone that's going through tough times in their life to overcome those I do pray that, you know, we we we come out of this pandemic more stronger and more better.

Better, less personal sense,

better people. And I do pray that Allah gives us long, long, live long and healthy lives, to learn more, to give more, to do more and to become a people have to become one of those people of gender. And I pray that Allah does give us the highest rates of gender and the ability to, you know, do beautiful things in this world and leave this world in people's memory as a as as that we've made positive change, as opposed to people as positive leaders, and I pray that we are all

know we all learn to be more compassionate. I pray that we all learn to become more patient. I pray that we all learn to take the positives from everything in our daily lives, and leave the next business cycle profits are less than they used to do. I pray that Allah gives us the strength to become

the peoples of the prophets, companions like the prophets, wives,

especially like Ashley, I pray that we have the ability to take

knowledge and share it and teach others and I do pray that all those who are less fortunate in this world comes out of comes out of it or we as a market help and we can realize as Muslims a show that the world what true Islamic and what true Muslim is and I pray that we can actually

share the profits from as well as an Allah as was when the

real way to the world.

Just a color hair May Allah Allah bless and I'll be back tomorrow brothers and sisters, a big thank you to system to Sabir, who's given her time. Thank you so much. May Allah bless you for that beautiful recitation. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please take a moment to visit well tanned.org.uk to support Syrians in need.