Islamic Sisters Mall

Assalamualaikum,

I think your idea is an attractive one. Three big issues I see with the plan:

1) The majority of the Muslim women in the community are not hijabis and so aren't as constricted as the women in the scenario you gave.

2) In my experience shopping around the community, hijabi or not, most married Muslim women shop with their husbands - even for really mundane household items or female products. I haven't fully investigated but my guess is that their husbands, for better or for worse, control the family money. I usually see the husbands paying and the muslimas who I do see "shopping" on their own are window shopping only.

**You might do better to target all your offerings to younger, unmarried women, who have the disposible income and free time to spend in the mall. So things such as bubble tea shops (the young Muslimas I know go crazy over this), cafes and other food court offerings that allow for large posses of young sisters to relax and hang out would be most welcome. Youth themed Muslim clothing and accessories stores. Take a look around malls like Yorkville and Eaton Centre and see where you see crowds of young muslimahs and style your mall accordingly.

3) Another concern is how you would manage the inevitable presence and contact with men (Muslim and non-Muslim) that running a business in N. America requires. Most delivery and repair persons are men, so the mall could never really be a truly female only space where hijabis could relax enough to unveil.

Really good concept, though.

Sallam
I think you have an interesting idea and i wish all the best for it.

As a muslim women born and raised in Canada i would love to see such a
idea come to life. Although i do see many obstacles that will have to be overcome. The reason i say this is because when i go to square one, all i see is muslim women by themselves, or with there friends not there spouses.

I realize that you are suggesting it as an option for us but many women and young girls are so into the brand name items, therefore
they would choose a bigger mall. I can also see alot of propaganda from media that would turn this endeavour into a nightmare. Goodluck, if it does fly i will be the first one there!

Asslam’alaikum

After reading all of your comments I have come to realize that thiss proposal is not only extremely beneficial for the muslimah community in Toronto but it is also something that could help bring all the widespread muslim communities together. I also believe it should be operated using sound Islamic principles from the Quran and Sunnah. As for those who stated that big malls have more variety and are what the muslimah community are happy with, I have only one things to say to you. Do you really want the muslim women of this ummah mixing in with every kind of fitnah you can think of and for what "variety". Not to mention that 90% of the items being sold in the malls are things muslim women shouldn't be purchasing in the first place; such as the unislamic nature of the clothing, cosmetics, and unneeded material goods. In my opinion if it was not for corporations with all of their deceiving advertising strategies creating the initial needs for useless material goods we would have no need for places like “York dale” or “Scarborough town centre”. Corporations are the ones responsible for driving people into purchasing expensive brands and goods. I say if non-muslims are capable of providing goods that fit the needs of their people then we should do the same and provide prices that everyone can afford, so that no muslim is hindered in purchasing goods that are of major necessity. As for those who argue that his plan is not economically feasible have failed to realize the intent of his project. I understand that all muslimah do not wear the hijab and some of them have no problem with mixing with the male gender. I ask Allah to guide those sisters on the straight path and to preserve their hayah. However as for the sisters that are concerned with the mixing with genders then I believe that we have a responsibility in providing them with the accessibly to all the necessity of goods and services that they require both in the matters of the dunyah and the deen in a halal environment which they would be comfortable. As for people that claim that the muslimah mall will cause segregation they have failed to realize that as a muslim you are ordered by the prophet “peace be upon him” to stay away from fitnah and not to mix with and be influenced in a negative manner by the kufar or people that are not upon correctness. Let’s put some money back in the muslim community and create jobs for our muslim sisters. I am sick and tired of making non-muslim corporations rich. You say segregation I say a stronger and more united muslimah community that will have a place to educate themselves in the deen, keep fit, purchase groceries, clothing, and most importantly another place to get together with the muslimah community and worship Allah. And Allah Knows Best .Anything I said that is not in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah is from shaytan and anything that I said that was upon correctness is from Allah. I ask Allah to except are goods deeds and forgive us for our sins; ameen. I ask Allah to bring back the muslim youth from their jahaliyah practices and return them back to the fitrah; ameen. I ask Allah to forgive our parents and guide them towards success; ameen. I ask Allah to grant us and are dear ones Junnah; ameen.

SAlam Have you built this mall yet?

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu,

SuabhanAllah i think this is a beautiful idea inshaAllah!!! i know so many sister that have to look else where to find jobs that are not Halal. If This Sisters Mall could work and follow certain conditions that fall under sharee'ah law then MarshaAllah it would be incrediable inshaAllah!!!

With regard to women working and going out of the home, we say:

1 – The basic principle is that women should stay in their houses. This is indicated by the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance”

[al-Ahzaab 33:33]

Although this was addressed to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), all believing women should follow them in that. It was addressed to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) because of their honoured status and because they are the example for the believing women.

This is also indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Woman is ‘awrah, and when she goes out the Shaytaan gets his hopes up. She is never closer to Allaah than when she is in the innermost part of her house.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and Ibn Khuzaymah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, no. 2688.

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said concerning women praying in the mosques: “Their houses are better for them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 567’ classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood).

2 – It is permissible for a woman to work or study so long as a number of conditions are met:

- That this work is suited to the nature and aptitude of women, such as medicine, nursing, teaching, tailoring and so on.

- The work should be in a place that is for women only, with no mixing between the sexes. It is not permissible for a woman to study or work in a mixed school.

- The woman should wear proper Islamic hijaab and Islamaic dress at work.

- Her work should not lead to her travelling without a mahram.

- Her going out to work should not involve her committing any sin, such as being alone with the driver, or wearing perfume where non-mahram men will be able to smell it.

- That should not lead to her neglecting her duties of looking after the house or taking care of her husband and children.

3 – What you have mentioned about your being able and willing to work, teach or study is something good. Perhaps that will help you to serve Allaah, such as teaching Muslim girls in your house or in the Islamic center – subject to the conditions mentioned above – or doing something that will benefit you and your family, such as sewing and the like, which will be a means of stopping boredom.

You could also join one of the Islamic Open Universities, which will let you enroll in a distance-learning program, so that you can increase your knowledge and understanding of Islam, as well as attaining a higher status before Allaah. For the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, and the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth pray for forgiveness for the scholar, even the fish in the sea, as it says in the hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi (no. 2682), Abu Dawood (3641), al-Nasaa’i (158) and Ibn Maajah (223); this hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

Ask Allaah to bless you with righteous offspring, because in raising these children a woman will fill her time and will not feel bored, and she will be rewarded for all of that, praise be to Allaah.

Remember that it is obligatory to obey your husband unless he tells you to do something sinful. So if a husband tells his wife not to go out to work or to study, she has to obey him, and this will lead to her happiness and salvation. According to a hadeeth narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh, “If a woman prays her five daily prayers, fasts her month (of Ramadaan), guards her chastity and obeys her husband, it will be said to her: ‘Enter Paradise from whichever of its gates you wish.’” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 661).

But the husband should not exploit this right to hurt his wife’s feelings or ignore her opinion or go against her wishes. Rather he has to fear Allaah and try to consult with his wife and discuss with her, and explain the shar’i ruling to her, and give her permissible alternatives that will make her happy, develop her potential and achieve some of what she wants.

We ask Allaah to help us all to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

this is the link and website:

http://www.islam-qa.com

As-salam alaikum,
Finaly we launched the Aishah Islamic Shop Online
Please support us in our first attempt online.
Happy Shopping!

http://cristina.munir-amani.com/shop.htm
http://cristina.munir-amani.com

Best regards & ma`a salam,Sister Aishah

hi,

I am a toronto journalist making a documentary about Islamic finance for the CBC. have you made any advances in your goal to build an Islamic Sisters Mall?

thanks, m

Assalamu alaikum,

I just stumbled upon this site and this amazing proposal! I see that it was posted a while back; just wanted to know if there has been any progress?

Salam Alaykum

Im a muslim girl coming from france. Im in Canada to do an internship for my studies. I would like to meet some sisters because im alone here....
Besides do you know where can I buy islamic books ??

Thanks

Salam alikum

Aslam o alkium !!

Sounds like a fantastic idea but not too easy for sure.Just wanna know any progress???

as salaam aleykum sisters,
I'm really impressed with your proposal, however unfortunately I know from experience that it is very difficult for businesses to survive in this economic climate. We have a muslim shop and have experience with the local muslim community. Often the muslim community here in the UK are on a low income and not able to spend too much, therefore prices need to be low. It is very diffult to make a profit especially with so much competition on the internet. Many shops here in normal shopping malls, that are even very busy, are therefore closing and new shops are constantly opening and closing. I think in a place like Saudi where people do have money to spend and shops would have enough customers, it would definitely be a hit, but in the west, with people on low incomes, high rents and economic downturn NO way.... You would have to make a major investment that you will never earn back. However if you do make the leap, I pray that Allah swt will help you to make it :-)
I do have to add that in the UK what really makes a huge difference for us muslims is that there are a lot of us in each city and many sports centres and swimming pools have made specials women's only and mens only times so that we can still use their facilities. There are also plenty of community halls that we rent out some times to have bazaars etc or events. I think it would be a good idea to work with what you have already and try to fight for your rights.
-so, get together and ask for a women's and men's only slot at your local sport centres or swimming pool if that's what you're interested in.
-Organize islamic talks/bazaars at community centres.
-Have coffee mornings at home.
-Open a muslim shop and give dawah at your local mall (believe me a lot of people will ask questions and here alhamdelallah many people are reverting and opening up) The best place to open a muslim shop in the middle of your local shopping mall - spread to word dont hide it :-) that's exactly what we're doing right now. inshallah pray for our income please.... Shops are struggling but we're at least breaking even alhamdelallah but the dawah is making up for it. It's at least making it easier for the muslim community to live here and it's more normal and common for non muslims to see us and our life style and loads of non muslims buy things from us as well. It opens doors....
inshallah may allah swt help you to find solutions and put barakah in your ventures.
jzk allah kheir

Alsalam alykum sister

It is a great Idea mashallah
I will say go on with it..don't listen to any negative energy people give you. I did read a sister telling you it is hard coz of the economical climate. as a Muslim you know that rizg is in the hand of Allah subhanah wa taala. twakali ala Allah and do it.

May Allah be with you.

:)

as salaamu alaikum, I have opened up my online Islamic clothing store called UrbanMuslimahs located at www.UrbanMuslimahs.com selling various styles from all over the world, should this decision of yours end up resulting into success in sha Allah then by all means keep me posted as well :)

I ship out of Mississauga which is near Toronto including niqab, hijab, abaya, caftan and more

I am also interested in putting together with some other business owners to have a Bazaar as they are always desired in the GTA

If you use facebook then add me: www.facebook.com/urbanmuslimahsfanpage also e-mail: khadijahahdia@urbanmuslimahs.com

Assalam Alaikum. We launched our blog: networkmarketingandmuslims.com. Please visit it and provide your feedback. 101 reasons will be listed why a muslim/a needs to do this kind of home-based business.

Where is this mall going to be in toronto what address.