Unswtnd + Unfltrd

In Episode 40, we’re kissing 2019 goodbye. Ma3a salama!
We sit down to answer all of your questions. Some are intense and raw, like “What stands between you and becoming a happier person?”
Others are a bit more silly, like “What’s the stupidest thing you’ve been dared to do?” You guys are not going to believe Dounya’s answer!

We discuss stress, dealing with conflicts, mistakes we’ve made in the past and all things in between. We laugh, we (almost) cry and we let it all out.
In this episode, you’ll also come to find out just how hypocritical we are. Yup, we don’t practice what we preach. We’re calling ourselves out and putting it all on blast. This also ties into our announcement at the end of the episode.

You’ll just have to listen to find out.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making 2019 a year for the books. We could not have made it to this point of our podcasting journey if it wasn’t for you and your support. You have made the handwork, sleepless nights, stress-induced acne and dark under-eye circles worth it all!

But on a serious note, thank you for making our small circle much bigger than we could have ever imagined it to become! This sisterhood is here to stay!
We have so many incredible things planned for 2020, so make sure you stay tuned for Season Two!
Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered

In Episode 2, we are joined by Lisa Vogl, who is an award winning international fashion photographer and founder of Verona Collection modest fashion brand. Vogl's Verona Collection is aimed at Muslim women and others who prefer to dress modestly. The collection launched last year online at Macy's, but now will be offered in the Dearborn store. We also discuss how to heal and find the silver lining through our hardships.
Enjoy, and remember to follow us on Instagram @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Shop Verona :www.verona-collection.com

Sometimes Allah (swt) wants a certain level of Jannah for someone and when their good deeds alone can't get them there, He gives them hardship.
These are such powerful words that I was fortunate enough to come across in a moment of need. In today's episode, I sit down with Halima Jama to discuss how we can better focus our lens on the blessings threaded within our hardships, how we can include Allah in every aspect of our lives and how to trust the next chapter we are embarking on because Allah is the author.

Some silver linings can be much more difficult to find than others, but there is always goodness and khair in everything that we endure. Subhanallah, how Allah grants us the strength to face the most difficult of hardships in this dunya.
In this life, you will have moments where your face hurts from smiling too much, moments where your eyes can't shed anymore tears, tireless nights where you find yourself surrounded by darkness, moments that are memorable and others that you try your hardest to erase.
You will meet people who will love you deeply and others who will hurt you and may leave a scar behind, but through all of this, you will find that silver lining.

Know that through all of these moments, Allah is right there with you. So, ask for His guidance, pray for better days, soften your heart and open your eyes to the beauty in this dunya and the rewards of Allah's mercy.

As always, be gentle with one another. Most of us are going through something that we are choosing to only keep between us and our Creator. I only pray that Allah showers you with ease and patience.

I intentionally chose to keep this conversation as the last discussion of Ramadan. Halima Jama is someone who you will find yourself indebted to Allah for allowing you to cross paths with her. Her words always touch me and leave an imprint on my heart for more reasons than one.
She is a well known wedding photographer in Toronto, Canada and a Muslim woman everyone should know. She showers us with her beautiful duas that are accompanied with her contagious smile.

And in this episode we dive into the notion of cultivating a strong bond with Allah and focusing our lens, no pun intended, on the many ways Allah has chosen to provide us with rizk, mercy and blessings we could have never imagined for ourselves.

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Halima Jama on Instagram:
@halimajama
Follow Tawheed Community Centre here:
@tawheedcommunitycentre
Book Halima for your next Photoshoot here:
www.halimajama.com

May we be the generation that gifts our grandparents with a free Palestine.
Over 200 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed in Gaza since violence erupted just over a week ago during the end of Ramadan and at least 1,500 Palestinians have been wounded.
By the time I release this episode, please take into account that these numbers may change drastically.

I can't help but to reiterate that the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians has never stopped. It has been on a continuum for decades now and for the first time the world is coming together as a unifying force to call out the oppressors and to put an end to the genocide of Palestinians at the hands of Israel.

The media has attempted to vilify the Palestinians by painting a picture as if it’s Israel against Hamas, or Israel vs Gaza and the best one yet, Jews vs Muslims and the foundation of all of these news stories is that Israel is just trying to defend itself.This couldn't be further from the truth and so, we the people have become the truth tellers, using social media to amplify what is truly taking place in our beloved homeland of Palestine.

It’s our slingshots and our rocks against their military weapons. Yet, they say that we are the troublemakers and they, the Zionists, are the peacemakers.
And as a reminder these weapons are funded and backed by the US. Just recently, Biden has approved a 735 million dollar weapons sale to Israel. The same USA that sends 3.8 billion dollars annually to fund the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

Ever since we were old enough to read and write, we have known about the plight of our people. It’s having to continuously reaffirm our identity, it’s witnessing someone tell you to your face, why can’t you guys just get along? It’s the deafening silence that has become the advantageous weapon of the Zionists.

In today’s episode I had the privilege of sitting down with Nooran Alhamdan, someone whom I have always viewed as a powerful voice in the Palestinian movement. She explains to us the significance of Sheikh Jarrah, why Gaza is the scapegoat of Israel, how Zionism came about and how to refute their claims made against those who are for the liberation and freedom of Palestinians. I highly encourage that you support the work of Nooran and to share this discussion with family and friends who are seeking additional resources to better understand the plight of the Palestinian people.

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Nooran Alhamdan on Twitter:
@nooranhamdan
Check out the Podcast Episode Nooran mentioned:
CHAPOTRAPHOUSE: Focus on Palestine feat.
Mohammad Alsaafin

Listen, I’m not fully blaming evil eye here but how coincidental is it that anytime I post a selfie, the very next day I’m breaking out...so was it evil eye energy or was cleansing my face three times in a row not enough? We may never know…

We have all most likely lost count of how many times we have heard these words being uttered - 'SAY MASHALLAH'. And so we quickly say it because it feels as though there is this five second rule that exists after complimenting someone and having to follow it up with saying “mashallah”  to avoid something bad from happening. 

I think we can all agree that this episode is long overdue but good things come to those who wait and for us it came in human form and her name is Jehan Mansy, today’s special guest!

Jehan is a spiritualist, a writer, healer and founder of the Ruqaya Box  and Ascension deck. 

In today’s episode she is extending her expertise in regards to the unseen world. Call it divine timing but I was fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Jehan’s work and without hesitation I reached out to her and let her know that this is a topic that is in dire need of attention and possible  myth busting.

But before we dive head first, Jehan takes us on a journey of how and when she first discovered her healing abilities and how she came to terms with her purpose even though all of our lives we were told this was haram and to avoid talking about the unseen world. 

You may have at one point or another wondered if the hardships you’re facing are a test from Allah or if it’s from evil eye? So how does one tell the difference between the two and how can we protect ourselves if it is due to hassad or nazar being placed upon us?

And what exactly is sleep paralysis and how do we navigate this dunya when we are sharing it with the unseen world. There is no denying that bad spirits exist which also means that curses are a real thing - and if you’re like me you may be wondering how to avoid this at all costs.

Like Jehan says:  you don’t know who is rooting for your downfall or who is hiring someone to send you magic  and so in the episode notes I have included Jehan’s online site that is filled with protection prayers and resources if you are in need of immediate relief and release from the harm you may be facing.

Did I mention that we close this episode with Jehan letting me know if I do have a curse on me...

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered

Follow Jehan Mansy on Instagram:
@jehan.mansy

Protection Prayers and Resources:
www.jmansy.com