So what does this mean for us as Muslimahs, mothers, and Muslims in general? True, we are exhorted to abstain from Debt, but the way of economics in this world of the west was based on credit due to the high costs of simply living. As Aisha narrated in the hadith (Bukhari,Volume 3, Book 41, Number 582:) "Allah's Apostle used to invoke Allah in the prayer saying, "O Allah, I seek refuge with you from all sins, and from being in debt." Someone said, O Allah's Apostle! (I see you) very often you seek refuge with Allah from being in debt. He replied, "If a person is in debt, he tells lies when he speaks, and breaks his promises when he promises."

Many of us today know of someone who has lost their employment or have been forced to take a job at a lower wage. Many wives and mothers have had to go out and seek employment in order to help out our partners in life or a family members who are struggling. I have had 2 of my grown sons who are single move back in with us to save costs. And with going out to work, we must increase our wardrobes. For a woman who wears the hijab, or Muslim head scarf, this can be a real challenge as she may have to increase her wardrobe to keep an appropriate appearance for business, but at the same time, do it in a manner that does not pose additional economic hardship. There are many ways that a sister can update and stretch her existing wardrobe without too many additional purchases.

Back in the time in the United States during the era of the great depression and the following times of the Second World War, families who had little or not enough would stretch what they had currently, and found ingenious ways to recycle and reuse items. Flour sacks were made at that time of calico materials and where not thrown away but remade and refashioned into such items as childrens clothing, kitchen towels, etc. Often worn out clothing was trimmed down and cut into fabric to make quilts, rag rugs, etc. Victory gardens were grown in backyards to increase fresh vegetables to supplement meager diets and so on. Even though in these times we may not be so desperate, a penny saved is a penny, earned, and these cliches hold much wisdom and truth.

When veiling, a sister can take one Amira hijab hood or one Scarf and give it a different look seven days of the week simply by using different underscarves or tying it in a different manner, see below..

Same oblong scarf, two different undercaps and styles, with an amira (khimar) you could also do the same thing:

Here, using the original underscarf and a different undercap, you get 2 different looks with the same hood. Purchase scarves and Amiras in solid colors and buy more inexpensive caps in coorinating colors to mix and match! That is it simply!

Sisters who are able to sew have an advantage, there are many premade patterns on the market that can be adapted to make islamic clothing. Some of my favorites is listed below:

Even if you are not sew savvy, many second hand stores in your area, and online auction sites such as ebay have bargains on clothing that can be used to dress Islamically. Below see links for free sites that have free Islamic sewing patterns and some on Hijab fashion, as well as videos that show different way to tie scarves. Inshallah we may all remain safe in the deen and survive these times in a healthy manner. Allah hafiz!

Links!

Links to Free Islamic Clothing and Accessory Patterns

Pt II: Make It Do, How to Care and Launder Scarves

From Shahadanet, free Islamic patterns and Links

Videos on Fashion Hijab and How to Hijab

Also this sisters site: Underscarves, Abayas, Jilbabs and Niqabs

Western style Islamic Clothing Links by Sr. Joyce

Back to Ebay, Mariyah's Bazaar

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