Perhaps the most iconic aspect of SHUKR’s website presentation is the striking photography, taken against the backdrop of beautiful, traditional Damascene houses. These remnants of Ottoman splendor are priceless historical gems, testifying to the beauty of traditional Islamic architecture. SHUKR has been privileged to photograph its clothing collections in some of the most famous of these fairy-tale palaces and homes, including the Azem Palace, Maktab ‘Anbar and Bayt Nizam. We have also photographed in other atmospheric Islamic architectural masterpieces, such as the magnificent Umayyad Mosque, the dramatic Khan As’ad Pasha, the sumptuous Bait Shami restaurant, and the atmospheric old souks. This photograph of our Tunic Shirt, taken in the Azem Palace, was a winning shot during our Ramadan 2005 campaign:

The Azem palace was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus, As’ad Pasha al-‘Azem, and it currently functions as the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. Here’s a shot our cameraman took with a minaret of the Ummayyad Mosque in the background. Who wouldn’t want to have the Umayyad Mosque as their local masjid?!

Maktab Anbar has some wonderfully intricate geometric wooden doors, which we love to photograph against. Here’s a favorite photo from Ramadan 2007:

Maktab Anbar, built in the mid-19th century, contains a mixture of traditional Islamic design themes, including, of course, the symbolic gardens, as well as European-influenced stonework.

Bayt Nizam, an 18th-century quaint Damascene house, has some wonderful stonework. Maybe this is what is engaging our male models in this photo? Probably not!

This mother-of-pearl engraved door from the Bayt Nizam has some thoughtful religious poetic lines, saying:

“That which Allah wills, Is
And that which He does not will, is Not”

“Whoever trusts in Allah, Allah frees from need (from any besides Him)
And whoever depends upon Him, Allah suffices him”

(Click on the image to enlarge it and read the Arabic engraving yourself)

A typical SHUKR photoshoot takes up the whole day, and we have a small team of enthusiastic models, assistants, a director and a cameraman. None of our models are professionals, but rather just naturally talented individuals we bumped into here and there. We normally have 3 female models on site, which gives us an opportunity to create some interesting group shots. Here’s a favorite from Ramadan 2007:

Judging by the amount of page views this next image received on our websites, this was our most popular image ever:

The photoshoots normally are an enjoyable experience, and probably the best one was when we rented out the Bait Shami restaurant to do some shots for Ramadan and Eid. This is a traditional Arab house recently converted into a restaurant, the best destination for Arab cuisine in Damascus:

The photoshoots are, however, also a lot of hard work. After a full day on one’s feet, rushing around trying to get everything done in time, it’s time to take a break!

We’d like to know what you, our customers, think about our pictures. Do you appreciate the traditional architectural backgrounds? What do you think about the style of photography? Is there enough product detail shown? We’d love to hear from you.

~Anas, Managing Partner

SHUKR is a conscientious Islamic clothing company, and realises that Islam encourages us to be “green”. Consequently, we try to use natural fabrics as much as possible, and we really like using contemporary environmentally friendly fabrics like Tencel. We have a full range of Tencel denim styles (http://www.shukronline.com/womens-tencel.html) and next summer we will be introducing a range of non-denim tencel fabrics. Then we can mention that the SHUKR team, given our concern for the environment, would like to recommend this prominent new book, which gives a new, interesting take on the subject.

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, policy adviser in the New York City Mayor’s Office on issues of long-term planning and sustainability, recently authored a book addressing those issues and more, entitled “Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet.” In his own words:

[It's] a one-of-a-kind narrative that shows how Islamic teachings can inspire all of us to be stewards of the Earth. Green Deen is about transforming our public, private and civic sectors. It’s about bridging the innovation gap and moving all the world’s citizens from entitlement to empowerment through our fundamental human connection to the environment.

“Ibrahim Abdul-Matin not only shows the myriad ways American Muslims are contributing to the resolution of the environmental crisis that threatens us all but also goes a long way toward humanizing the Muslim community by sharing with the reader the lives of so many extraordinary, talented, and visionary people.”

—Imam Zaid Shakir, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California

Here is a review on KeenforGreen.com.

Enter a giveaway to win a copy at Care2.com.

To go directly to the book’s website, check out GreenDeenBook.com.

Read it? Let us know what you think!

…Treating yourself, once in a while. After a long busy week of work, one often feels tired, sleepy, and sometimes a bit cranky. So is there something wrong with treating yourself? No, I don’t think so. This week I went out with my friends to our favorite restaurant, we shared stories and jokes and of course, we ate until we were full.

It is important to realize that in the midst of our busy lives and tight schedules, it’s important to take some time off. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be something grand, it can be as simple as just sitting around the house and relaxing. We forget that our body has a right over us and it is through our body we accomplish our goals and dreams. If we aren’t doing what we can to take care of ourselves, then sooner or later, we are going to burn out.

I think we all deserve a break once in a while, to enjoy and relax and make shukr for the many blessings of life.

~ Basim, Marketing Manager

As many of you know, this company was founded upon the virtue of gratitude. God mentions in the holy Qur’an: “If you give thanks (shukr), I shall certainly increase you” (Qur’an 14:7).

Islamic teachings place a strong emphasis on gratitude in general and encourage Muslims to thank God in all circumstances. One of the fundamental reasons for praying five times a day and for fasting during Ramadan is to put Muslims into a state of gratitude and thankfulness for all that they have been given.

Not surprisingly, many modern psychological studies are only now catching on to the benefits of cultivating an attitude of gratitude. In one study, they asked participants to keep a gratitude journal where they recorded three things every day that they were grateful for (Seligman et. al., 2005). The well-being and happiness of the participants increased so much that many continued to keep the journals well after the study was completed.

“If you count God’s blessings, you can never encompass them all. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.” Qur’an (14:34)

Whether espoused by philosophers such as David Hume or Cicero, studies such as the one mentioned above just demonstrate what Muslims already know and are asked to practice—-a constant remembrance of everything we have to be grateful for makes for greater happiness.

“So verily, with hardship, there is ease.” (Qur’an 94:5)

Therefore, we are beginning a series of posts where members of our staff share three things they are grateful for.

I’ll begin. I am tremendously grateful for my son Salam, my husband, and my health. What are three things you are grateful for, right now? Feel free to share in the comments section.

~Beth, Blog Admin

Notes:

“Of all crimes that human creatures are capable of committing, the most horrid and unnatural is ingratitude, especially when it is committed against parents…” –David Hume (1711–1776), A Treatise of Human Nature, Vol. 3.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero (106-43 BC).

McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112-127.

Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., & Maltby, J. (2008). PersonalPages.Manchester.ac.uk, Gratitude uniquely predicts satisfaction with life: Incremental validity above the domains and facets of the Five Factor Model. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 49-54.

Kashdan, T.B., Uswatte, G., & Julian, T. (2006). Gratitude and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in Vietnam War veterans. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 177-199.

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N.,& Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410-421.

We know you’re looking for the perfect dress for this upcoming Eid, so we wanted to highlight a few of our top choices.

Order soon—the last day for Eid shipping is November 8, 2010 (assuming that Eid falls on November 16, 2010).

The Rukhsana Dress (above)

Subtly clever and always versatile, this popular design is now available as a dress! Stay miles ahead of the curve with one of our gorgeously modest dresses today.

(Shop here: US, UK)

The Cotton Twill Princess Dress (above)

Our classic Princess Dress is now available in a medium-weight cotton twill fabric. Plenty appropriate for the cooler months ahead, this dress has small sweet touches that make all the difference.

(Shop here: US, UK).

The Masoumeh 2-Piece Dress (above)

This fantastic dress and gown combination exudes charm. Mix and match with your favorite dresses and jilbabs, or wear it the original way for a lovely layered look.

(Shop here: US, UK).

The Tencel Denim Formentera Shirtdress (above)

Now available in our silky Tencel denim, this best-seller features a contemporary cut and western appeal which make this dress a staple for every sister. As always, you never have to worry about slits or quarter length sleeves with our dresses! Pure comfort and style are all we’ve got!

(Shop here: US, UK, Canada)

The Insiyah Beaded Dress (above)

Clusters of tasteful, striking hand-embroidered beadwork adorn this classic dress, for a touch of subtle shimmer. Made from a medium-weight soft linen, it’s the ideal dress for special occasions.

(Shop here: US, UK, Canada).