Restoring (Inter) FAITH in Humanity - Amazon's New Christmas Advert - A Priest and Imam meet for a cup of tea.

I hope you've already seen Amazon's new advert, but I'd like to share it for those who haven't. 

Two old friends, a Priest and an Imam are talking happily and drinking tea. As the two men stand, they do so with difficulty and with sore knees. They laugh at the pain they share. The Imam leaves and is seen ordering something from Amazon; the Priest is also seen ordering something online. In the next scene, the Priest and the Imam kneel to pray - and are both seen wearing their new knee support bands they bought from Amazon. Cue warm and fuzzy feeling.

In a world where only our differences are highlighted and talked about, it's so heartwarming to see a tiny example in which our similarities are the most important thing. I'm grateful to Amazon for making this advert and hope it is seen by enough people to make a small difference in the world.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts below.

Kelly

The Aurora Project

Shop Online - Our Etsy Store is Filled with Islamic Calligraphy Crafts and Reminders!

[T H E  A U R O R A  P R O J E C T  U K]

Head over to our small (but cute) Online Islamic Gift Shop, hosted by Etsy!

I love the Etsy community.  Everything sold on the site is handmade, which creates such a vibrant and inspiring buzz!

Allah - Send us knowledge this Ramadan.

(Image from Pinterest)

[Allah swt]

How is everyone's first week of Ramadan going? Who's learned something new? Who's made a change for the better? 

Muhammad Ali. The loss of an inspiration.

[Muhammad Ali]

The world is mourning for the loss of a True Inspiration. A Great Man. Muhammad Ali.

Art and Reverting - How the Beauty of Islamic Artwork Led me to Islam

[Art & Reverting]

When I first began to look into Islam, it was Islamic Art that touched me the most. Simplistic calligraphy pieces like this pushed me to read further to find the meanings behind the artwork...

Fri-Yay!

[iiiiit's Friday!]

And a Bank Holiday weekend at that! Happy FriYay! Make it a good one!

#JummahMubarak

Islam and Peace

Let the truth set you free. 

As it did for me. 

Sleep well. 

Born Muslims and Reverts

For All Muslims.

(and the Non-Muslims who want nothing but peace in this world).

I stumbled across this and had to repost it. I'm a Revert Muslim and of course this made me smile. Yet, I feel the opposite.

For the Love of Book...Cases!

For the love of Book...cases! 

I'm in love with our Billy Bookcase from IKEA (next to our Giant Poster of NYC - one day InshaAllah!) As you can see it's pretty much full of all my stuff! 

"You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important" - Aibileen [The Help]

"You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important".

After watching 'The Help' again last night I just had to post this beautiful statement. The main character in the film, Aibileen, raises the daughter of a well-off white family who fail to show little Mae the love she needs as they don't think she is "pretty" enough. Aibileen, a black house-maid, constantly reminds Mae that she is Kind, Smart and Important, in the hope that she grows up to be the change that America so clearly needed.

I love this film, as upsetting and hard-hitting as it is. Based on the novel of the same name, it's set in the 1960s America in which racism was still rife. Black individuals were treated as though they were a different species, not allowed to eat at the dinner table of white families or use their bathrooms! To think that all of this was the norm only 50 years ago makes my heart heavy, yet thankful for the change. I know America's problem with racism still exists today, but MashaAllah they now have a black president! Something that would never have been forseen 5 decades ago!

It makes me think about my own Grandma, and the life she could have had if she had chosen to leave Grenada and go to the USA instead. Would she have been a house-maid? Instead she came to the UK. She worked hard here and was able to earn money in a job that allowed her to feel somewhat free.

Anyway, my point is, when you're facing hardship, when people tell you you're not good enough. Remember, you are Kind, Smart and Important. With what is happening in the world right now, we need to unite. Maybe these people who are committing terrible crimes of war were never told they were any good. Maybe they were never shown kindness. Only they know, along with Allah (swt).

Kelly
The Aurora Project

iPhone 6S (White and Silver) - and My First (And Poor) Attempt AtKnolling!

iPhone 6S!

It's childish and materialistic I know, but I love my new iPhone upgrade. In actual fact, I did request the Space Grey - but funnily enough, hopeless Virgin Media sent me this White and Silver ensemble. In all fairness though, I was secretly pleased! It's beautiful! 

The 6S seems like an amazing phone and hopefully it will assist me in my ongoing artistic journey. I thought I'd try my first amateur knoll pic! On the left we have Prayer beads (tasbih) given to me by my mother in law. On the right is a cute Sun I made using an amazing technique with Hama beads (you lay the beads out in the pattern you want and then iron them together to form an adorable plastic badge). ☀️ I've made loads of things with them! Check them out! 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Kelly
The Aurora Project

Guess who got stickers! Hand Made Improve Your Packaging!

Guess who got stickers! I'm like a kid! But yes we have stickers and I'm very excited! I'll be sharing them with you on the packaging of your latest orders. IA #suraharrum

The Calligraphy reads "And He placed between you Love and Compassion". 

SubhanAllah!

Kelly
The Aurora Project

A Popular Image - InshaAllah I Will Paint This One Day!

Allah

Subhanahu wa Ta'ala

Al-Basir (The Seer of All)

Without doubt this is one of my favourite images - I see it all over Instagram and Tumblr. InshaAllah I would love to paint a piece inspired by this image. Does anyone know who created it? It's so simple, but pure and perfect - just like Islam!

Kelly
The Aurora Project

Religion in a Nutshell - A Truly Amazing Quote by Carl Sagan

"We contemplate our origins like stardust pondering the stars" - Carl Sagan.

What a truly beautiful, magical quote! We question how and why we're here as though the answers haven't already been written. They are written. In the books of Religion. Yes, I reverted to Islam, because for me, it's writings, explanations and teaching are so pure (MashaAllah). We're here because Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala placed us here. There is no compulsion in religion, but He asked us to pray to Him, to follow Him to gain entry into the next life. For me, nothing else made sense. We ask why O why are we here? And I found the answers in the Quran. 

I totally appreciate science, but for me, there is no denying that we were placed here by God. 

Although Carl Sagan was a Scientist (and from what I read, didn't really agree with religion as such, I feel this quote sums up all religion perfectly! 

What do you think?

Kelly
The Aurora Project

InshaAllah - if it is in His Plans, it Shall Be!

Insha'Allah!

My Child, for what reason are you so sad? Wipe away your tears, my Love. Don't you know, Allah has a plan for us all...

When you're down, look around! You'll see things that you'll thank God for, and things you'll thank God for sparing you of!

It's all in His plan!

If He so wills it to be!

Insha'Allah!

Kelly
The Aurora Project

"And He Found you lost"...in New York City?

Here's my favourite verse from the Quran again! "And He found you lost, and guided you". The quote I made looks pretty cool with the New York backdrop...and nooo unfortunately we don't live in the Big City, or America for that matter. We're in little old Birmingham in the UK. We have this huge New York City poster on the wall of our Apartment though...we can all but dream!

Where's your dream city?

Kelly
The Aurora Project

Happy Halloween - From A Revert's Point of View!

Happy Halloween!

October the 31st has always been my favourite day of the year! There's something so exciting yet peaceful about it. Last Halloween I wasn't Muslim. However, now that I am, I've found myself questioning whether or not I should still celebrate Halloween, due to its dark nature. That said, on Halloween Devils and Ghosts and all other evil creatures are said to be allowed to walk the Earth tonight to do us harm. We dress up to disguise ourselves as one of them and stay safe. I absolutely love that - to me that is nothing but positive. And so long as Halloween's origin stays the same, I will continue to love it as I do!

EDIT: After publishing this post on Halloween I received quite a few messages from Muslims who were unhappy that I was 'encouraging its celebration'. I have to say, some of the responses I received were fairly rude and took my post way out of context. Apparently I was encouraging the worship of Devils. I'm sure the vast majority of readers could appreciate I was suggesting no such thing and it saddens me that people can't offer opinions freely without being accused of the Ridiculous.

I never said Islam accepted Halloween, and nor do I think for one second that Islam should accept Halloween! I chose to follow Islam due to the true beauty of it's Pure message. I think, other Muslims could learn to appreciate that Muslim Reverts were raised from birth with (usually) very different values and customs. I only reverted 6 months ago, and although I absolutely know my Right from Wrong, some things (such as Halloween) will naturally hold a special place in my heart for reasons you may not understand. Involving myself in Halloween celebrations may well be against Islam, but why is it that people seem to almost enjoy persecuting me for the things I should NOT be doing, rather than offering guidance in a kind and positive way. Also, if or when I see another Muslim doing something un-Islamic, I turn and ask myself what I could be doing better before I open my mouth.

#JustSaying!

This is one of the reasons I am working on The Revert Project - I'm writing a book to provide Muslim Reverts with a voice! Insha'Allah!

Have a beautiful day all!

Kelly
The Aurora Project

We're Now Selling on Etsy! Visit Our New Islamic Gift Shop.

Hello all, I hope you're well!

I'm very excited to announce that we have now opened our very own Etsy store! Now you can shop in two places - either visit our Personal Online Islamic Gifts Store http://www.theauroraproject.co.uk)
Or visit our online Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheAuroraProjectUK)!

I absolutely love Etsy! It's such a vibrant online community - Artists show each other lots of support and there is a lovely sense of welcome-ness for newbies :)

I used to sell on Etsy a few years ago whilst I was at University. I loved it! So I'm back :)

The Aurora Project Etsy

Kelly
The Aurora Project

Living my life like it's Golden!

"Living my life likes it's Golden" - In the famous words of Jill Scott.

Listening to the lyrics in her song I came to realise something that I should have known all along!

Life is Precious! - Live it with due care and attention.
Life is Valuable! - Look around, how many people wish they had what you do? Don't fret over things you don't have - thank Allah (swt) for everything you do have! Say Alhamdulillah and help someone in need!
Life is Sparkly! - Everyday may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day! What sparkled today?
Life is a Gift! - It may not seem like it right now, but you are lucky! You have been blessed. Blessed with the greatest gift of all - Life!

Life is Golden! Live it like it is!

SubhanAllah x

Kelly
The Aurora Project

Alhamdulillah - Thank you for showing me Islam!

People often ask me how or why I became Muslim. Of course, I chose Islam because I truly agreed with the teachings of the Quran. But there's another reason.

I'm Muslim because the best person I have ever met in my life was Muslim. Their kindness and beautiful nature inspired me like nothing else. I wanted to be just like them! They were this way because of how they were raised - as a Muslim. I reverted and then I Married that person! Alhamdulillah I thank Allah (swt) for placing this person in my life and for guiding me when I was lost.



Alhamdulillah print, available in our online Islamic Gift Store.

Kelly
The Aurora Project