#16. Nazia Nasreen: How a Toy Guided Someone to Islam - Ibraheem Toy House

06/11/18 • 52 min

One Foot In The Sink | Muslim Lifestyle Podcast

Nazia Nasreen is the founder of Ibraheem Toy House, the world’s leading online Islamic toy store. She’s also a mum of 2 children, a wife and an audiologist.

In 2014, Nazia founded Ibraheem Toy House whilst on maternity leave for her second child. She always struggled to find good quality Islamic toys for her daughter to make religious education fun. She decided to create her own online toy store and via word of mouth, this quickly spread and ending up being a full-time business.

Nazia shares her story on how, as an introverted and a shy person, she would attend networking events and, whilst being the only Muslim woman, she would volunteer to present her business and really throw herself outside of her comfort zone. She talks about running out of money and going back to her old job to raise cash, how her product inspired someone to accept Islam and why she wanted to quit and sell her business but instead Allah had other plans!

Nazia has an inspiring story. From selling toys on a single Facebook page to now having a team of people working for her.

We were inspired by her and proud to see a Muslim woman on top of her game!

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Nazia Nasreen is the founder of Ibraheem Toy House, the world’s leading online Islamic toy store. She’s also a mum of 2 children, a wife and an audiologist.

Nazia has an inspiring story. From selling toys on a single Facebook page to now having a team of people working for her.

We were inspired by her and proud to see a Muslim woman on top of her game!

If you liked this episode, please give us a 5 star review on Apple Podcast

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

If you want to get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected]

Previous Episode

#15. Fikra Yel: Creating a Community, Ramadan Sharing Fridges

Fikra Yel is the founder of Ramadan Sharing Fridges, an initiative that serves the less fortunate community workers and labourers with free food and drink during Ramadan.

In 2015, Fikra had a spare fridge and wondered what to do with it. She decided to put the fridge in her front yard and stock it with free food and drink for workers in the neighbourhood. It was also a great way of instilling the value of sharing in her children.

Fast forward a few years, her single fridge evolved in to a Dubai wide initiative where members of the community share a fridge outside their houses and stock it with food for the less fortunate. Today, there are over 150 fridges across Dubai, bringing communities together and breaking barriers. Fridges are stocked voluntarily by generous members of community multiple times a day.

The movement is now an annual event in the Dubai Ramadan calendar and is backed by many schools and large household names as corporate sponsors.

Fikra discusses how it all started, building a community led initiative, the true value of Ramadan Fridges.

Fikra’s story is so inspiring. She could have sold her fridge for some profit but instead decided to use it for a good cause. Her idea was unique. The initiative not only provides free food for the less fortunate, but establishes a relationship with them which would have been possible before.

If you liked this episode, please give us a 5 star review on Apple Podcast

Find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

If you want to get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected]

Next Episode

#17. Rimla Akhtar MBE: Muslim Women In Sport

Rimla Akhtar MBE is the chair of the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation and the first Muslim woman to sit on the English Football Association council. She is also on the Forbes list of ‘the most powerful women in international sports in 2018’.

In 2005 she captained the British Muslim Women’s football team. Since an early age, she has been a sports fanatic and today she champions inclusivity in sports, particularly for women from ethnic minorities to participate in sports that take in to consideration religious and cultural sensitivities. In 2007, she was part of a team to help overturn FIFA’s ban on the hijab.

Rimla shares her story on how she was influenced in to sports via her older brothers, being the only girl playing football with them. She talks about her experiences of being part of sports teams, wearing the hijab and standing out in sporting events, and participating in a world record game in Jordan.

We discuss how young Muslim girls can be more involved in sports, how they can get support via the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation, advice on ensuring your modesty whilst competing and the remarkable impact of the footballer, Mohamed Salah from Liverpool FC.

We really enjoyed talking to Rimla and seeing the increasing trend of more Muslims taking part in sports and having a positive impact. Mohammed Ali left a lasting legacy as the most recognised Muslim sportsman. Today there are many amazing Muslims in sports such as Ibtihaj Muhammad (American fencer), Sir Mo Farah (long distance runner), Moeen Ali (English cricketer) and Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand Rugby) player.