The Kite Runner

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I thought of sharing with you some information of novels I've read recently. I got them both from Turkey. The one that I really loved is the Kite runner which is a best seller and the first novel of Khaled Hosseini.  It has been made into a film.

I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this novel, it is the kind that you become so involved with it. It brings tears and pain to you, as well as smiles. It has so much reality in it as well. I recommend it to everyone. 

I just bought today the other novel of the same writer, A thousand Splended Suns, which is suppose to be very good as well. 

The other novel that I have read in Turkey is Harem; a journey of love. It is written by Asli Sancar who has done a great deal of research on the subject of harems It is not my type of novels but it did clear so much misunderstandings I had like many others about the Ottoman empire harems, the way it run and the way they are treated. 

I will be reading my other novel now, so till then...Enjoy your time and tell us what you have been reading :)..

Dreams

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم..

The idea of this post is taken from this lovely blog. Talking about your dream career, what you love to do, would like to do but probably didn't have the chance to do. Or what are your future plans/goals.

I am a dreamer, I set lots of goals and work towards achieving them, and being a real "dreamer" can make me set too much goals, (some can be unrealistic) lol...but I allow my self to dream, this is what makes life beautiful...doesn't it..:)

• Run a charitable organisation, that works towards providing jobs in Oman (my home country) for the needy. Jobs in shops and places run by the charity itself. So people can work and provide for themselves.
• Start an orphanage with high service, excellent trained staff that will treat the orphans fairly and increase awareness of such problem.
• Own a coffee shop..I would LOVE this...a coffee shop that serves also authentic drinks/sweets, as well as being child friendly.
• Own a magazine,,, I know I am over-dreaming in all this. But I'd love to have an Islamic/modern magazine, which knows exactly how to reach the heart of the youth and (modern fashion) and still be very Islamic.
• Have my own clinic, a speech and language therapy clinic for educating parents on child intervention and improving communication.
• Write a book, can be a novel, or on my specialty, or on different things.
• Have a gift shop, but this is a not a high priority:)
• Sponsor children from poor countries so they can complete their education
• Own a franchising restaurant, which is too expensive as I've seen :(
• Help my father publish a book on the wild-life in Oman, or do further documentaries on the wild-life for the known international magazines or channels.
• Be a professional photographer (and specially food photographer lol)
• Raise my children to be confident, clever, ambitious and contribute something to this world.
• Decorate a house that will be ours one day (inshallah ) all by myself (I know I am selfish but it has been what I want since I was a child lol).
• Be a writer in a known magazine or newspaper..

I've more...but these are what I remember at this moment..tell us about your dreams..

Updates: Beautiful Turkey

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم..

Gami Sultan Ahmet (picture is mine)

I am back Alhamdulilah...I have been busy with so many things..Yes my holiday with my sweet Hubby was to Turkey mashallah,,, 

Where East meets West I can say...Where you have a European Beautiful Nature with an Islamic culture...where you can fall in love with every scene, food, bazaar, masjid and building....

I loved it, loved the cool autumn weather, the pine forests, colourful falling leaves, the Bosphorus,  the markets that sell everything "Made in Turkey", herbs, spices, towels, jackets, household products....I loved the Masjids, reflects the once capital of the great Ottoman empire (Constantinople)..You see their menaras that reach for the sky ... I enjoyed visiting the Topkapi Palace, I learnt a lot from that one visit.

We visited Istanbul, Bursa and bolu (but didn't stay in Bolu exactly, we stayed by lake Abant in Abant).I enjoyed Turkish food, so delicious and healthy (except for the sweets lol)... I will be writing more about it in my foodblog inshallah..

I even thought it was so fascinating that rarely you find someone who speaks English..Hollywood movies in Cinemas are translated into Turkish (yes they speak Turkish). We bought sim cards and the msgs received into the cards are only in Turkish, so you don't know what they are telling you lol.....:O


We had to download Turkish dictionaries into our phones and take it out every time we speak to the hotel receptionist, shopkeeper or anyone :O..I even made up my mind to learn Turkish as it has many words similar to Arabic ones as well as it is a neighbouring country to the middle East so we've to learn it :)..

We went back to Oman for Eid holidays and then now am back with my children to Bahrain...and we're back to our routine..:)

Posphorus (picture is mine)..

I might write more about Turkey in another post......I've so much to tell ..

Updates..

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I haven't got much to talk about, so much things have been going on that kept me busy and I'll be busier in the next couple of weeks inshallah..

I have to do some baking, cleaning, ironing, and packing, yes inshallah I am going to take my kids to Oman, and then come back to Bahrain, and go away to a beautiful country with my hubby inshallah..emm I'll tell you all about it, just when I am back inshallah ;)..

I am relieved I submitted my assignment this week, It was one of those hard work that you aren't sure what they want from you, I passed my last exam and assignment al hamdulilah which was kind of a tough module. I've an exam coming up on the beginning of December, so I'd relax a bit and will resume studying after eidul adhha (celebration-holidays) inshallah ..For now, I can enjoy some free reading, reading things I love and enjoy..and do mooore baking which is like reading relaxes you...:)..but I admit reading is my highest priority..

I am glad the weather is changing now, it is cooler and you get this beautiful breeze when you are outside at evening..

Wish you all a lovely day/night..

When you visit Saudi Arabia

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

When you go to Saudi Arabia....

King Fahad bridge which connects between Bahrain and the East coast of KSA

so excited about changing scene..and looking forward to doing some shopping..and more window-shopping..

border takes around half an hour when no crowd is there, but at weekends if you risk going to KSA or coming to Kingdom of Bahrain you might take 2-3 hours :O

As you are so concentrated in one of the shops in a mall, beside trying to keep your children under your eyesight and control....

yes you can't see those faces..

suddenly, you are asked in a polite way to leave the shop, as they will be closing in few seconds for the prayer time...

So you find somewhere to sit and wait...and the roaming-non-praying guys enjoy staring at your uncovered face...

and you wait....

pictures of faces were not taken to protect mommy's identity and to remain anonymous to some degree (lol)

and wait....

and wait....

till you are rescued by one of the shopkeepers who finished off praying (or just smoking a cigarette which is so popular as it seems)..and opens the shop.....

and you are back...just make it fast so you won't be caught in the situation again...:D

Don't get me wrong, I love the principle behind stopping any work at prayer time...this also gives us shoppers the break to go and pray and remember our Creator...it is wonderful in general...I have to ramble about what I have experienced many many time..

And You still get cafes open and some restaurants to sit in if you are non-Muslim or just can't pray or will pray when you are back home during these closing hours..

I hate one thing; shops being opened at 10 am..and closed by 11:30 pm..and opened again at 4-4:30 pm..I can't see the sense behind the closing hours in the afternoon..I don't like shopping at night,,simply because my kids sleep early,, plus I don't like the over-crowded malls at night....

In general, I love the Saudi Market, so vast, contains everything of both West and East,, you can't leave there without finding what you want and even better than what you wanted..you can find anything you want whether you are looking for the cheap, moderate, or expensive designer products...Home/house designs and retailers are great as well...night gowns/party dresses are another thing...I can go on and on about the shopping there...

Moreover, the same shops can be in Bahrain or Oman or Dubai,, but well in Saudi their collection/stock is just different and other places' collection are way behind what you find there...!...So till my next visit to Dammam/khobar...etc...have a nice day :)

When I am thirty..

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم..

I am already thirty, I was thirty few days ago..a nice number but strange for me as I say goodbye to twenties..and hello to the decade of maturity and beauty..:)

That's why I thought, ONE post to write about myself. I still can remember when I was 21, 24, 25...I still feel young, and lucky I am as so many people say; I look young alhamdulilah..:), which of course as all women makes me feel good..:)

Ok...

I am Omani, from the beautiful Sultanate of Oman. I was born there, lived all my life there till the moment I received a scholarship to study abroad, and so just before I was eighteen, I went to Lovely Scotland. I spent 6 years there, Long time.I fall in Love with Scotland.

I've been married for a little more than 5 years alhamdulilah. I adore my hubby, and adore my kids, a boy and a girl. May Allah bless my family and all your families.

I am a qualified speech and language therapist, employed in Oman. I am passionate about my job, as I am with everything I love.I specifically enjoy (and good at) working with children.

I am an MBA (Masters in business administration) student at the moment , it has widened my thoughts and world alhamdulilah.

I am currently on a supposed long holiday but it is soon to finish. So I am in Bahrain with my family. I like the quiet life I have here.

I love reading. I am a real bookworm , have always been from a very young age.

I write a lot in Arabic, I write on everything and can write short stories alhamdulilah (in Arabic which is my first language and am passionate about this great language)

I am passionate about handcrafts, has always been but haven't done much to improve a once talent.

I am passionate about baking, specially since I had my first child.

I love my family so much, I miss living close by them. I think if you can you should better be close to your all loved once, we only live this life once.

I have many goals to achieve, I want to be my own boss and don't want to continue working for a sector. If I was able to achieve a goal I have, I'll tell you about it inshallah.

I speak besides Arabic and English, Swahili :)

I love travelling so much.

I can analyse to some extend personalities of people I meet.

I am thin, I have been thin since the age of four when I started to lose my childhood fat

I am a reflector, I can stay at night thinking of so many things, I can sit alone and just think

I am ambitious, but cautious

No one knows the real me till they talk to me, people judge me when they first see me in a way that is so different from the real me.

I love contemporary decoration/furniture

I am simple in my costumes

I love bukhour (Arabic incence?), henna (hand and feet painting), body creams and lotions and kohl (eye liners?).

I love sharing information with others.

I love exercising

I make lots of grammatical mistakes when I write a post in English, but I can cope better when I write an assignment, is it about the technical language I was initially introduced to when learning English!!

I can't think of anything else....except that I am thirty...:)..

Why do we read?

بسم الله الرحمــن الرحيم

Why do we enjoy reading what others write?

Why do we prefer some writing styles over others?

Why does our reading preferences defer depending on our moods/ what we are passing through/ our life stage?

I personally feel that we read because we can relate to our own experience/ our feelings and what we might not be able to express vocally or we need to know that there is someone like us. Sometimes we read a post/ article and we get emotionally so involved as if whatever is written there is directed towards us only. The happiness and sorrow in the written words touch us to the extend we cry or laugh.

We might be in distress or just came out of a devastated situation/relation or happily in love and so we get too attached to similar kind of stories or articles written by others.

We might be reading something out of a great passion of the specific issue/ subject/ matter, and so we don't notice any other books/articles/posts/stories

We might be reading on issues specific to the stage we are passing through. So for example if "A" is getting married soon she'll be reading anything to do with wedding preparations/ taking care of her skin or hair/ how to establish a successful life with your partner etc. If she is expecting a baby all her focus will be on pregnancy related issues. If a person is thinking of visiting a specific country he/she will be looking on information/books related to this issue. If a person was told at a hospital that he/she has some kind of problem, than he/she will be diving into information related to that condition.

If a person though is taking reading as one of his favourite hobbies, than reading will be part of his daily life when it is possible and reading might extend into different issues and topics.

To know each other

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware" (49-14).

Random thoughts

I've mixed feelings, feelings of guilt that I am not doing enough of everything I should do, sometimes I am not sure what I should do next.

I am a perfectionist I should admit, and this can be torture.

I can't even express how I feel exactly..

La Ilaha Ila Allah....

Some Respect IS appreciated

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم..

I have to take this out of my chest, it is annoying me.

I am talking about women, ladies who I see on daily basis when I go out here and almost all Middle Eastern Countries (well except Saudi Arabia) who have forgotten that they are in a still-conservative culture and Islamic country BUT still wear almost nothing to cover their bodies!!!!..

I am not talking about the normal thing that almost all women in the world wear, I am talking about seeing women dressed in shorts that barley cover their *** and transparent clothes that you know exactly how their underwear look like and you can tell the pattern on it!!..

I know that each person has the freedom to wear what they like , but respect is needed in any society. National women here don't alway cover from head to toe, actually most of them I noticed don't, but at least they put on clothing that you won't feel embarrassed looking at them.

I remember I saw signs in Dubai with a woman who had a cloth knee length, and in Oman I read once a book for tourists which encouraged them to wear something that won't go above their knees, but who is bothering to do so!!...

However, visit a mall or a market, and you'd see things that you wouldn't like your kids to look at, and when I take my boy to the school or pick him up and being an international school, I see different body shapes which leaves nothing for imagination.

We demand some respect of our religion, culture and tradition. Moreover, this might be considered cool in some cultures and lovely, but you don't know how bad a person wearing almost nothing can be seen in our culture. People won't wait to get to know the woman's personality and judge her on that!!!

Is it only me?

Do you feel sometimes you can do more than what you are doing, but something is keeping you away from doing so?

Do you stay up at night thinking about so many things, about your life, about how things can be or have been, about what you can do better..etc?

Do you plan on so many things, but just few of your goals are achieved..?

Do you always think of making a better YOU, a better surrounding, a better WORLD?

or is it only me??

What do you think of us?

Asalaam alaykum muslimat and hello to all readers:)

I know that some might think that Middle Eastern women are rotten spoiled, harsh, too proud of themselves and lazy.I am aware that some who have been to the Middle East think of us this way because of a certain percentage who are unfortunately!. Moreover, some women going abroad haven't been a really good example either.

In the Middle East, and specifically in the Gulf, SOME People have been fooled with the sudden wealth that oil has brought us in the last three or four decades. They handled this wealth in a bad manner, moving towards a lifestyle that is strange to us. They gave others a bad picture of the rest of the Arabs.

Many social problems have raised from the changing habits

and lifestyle. Nowadays most women work side by side with men. They are educated and would like to contribute in working and supporting their families. However, We are behind other countries in child care services. They don't exist in some areas at all, and if they exist they are too expensive or lack the proper staff training and service. Moreover, in different working sectors there are no flexible rules and regularities to help mothers to be or mothers with infants.

Therefore, many families have taken the easy available solution, bring a lady from the Indian-subcontinent or the Philippine, or Indonesia and she'll help with the cleaning, cooking, and baby-sitting.

Now, roles have been exchanged. Some women have relied 100% on these ladies to do each bit of their previous roles, even raising the kids!. They've focused on their individual needs and neglecting kids and their houses and even their husbands!!..

Children are raised with no clear identity, broken Arabic or English, lack of religious knowledge and lack of parental affection?This can be a big problem for some of the coming generations.

The bright side is that many women now, and men alike are so conscious about what should they choose from this modern lifestyle and what should they leave. They have taken what is best from others and adapted it within our conservative culture and religion.

I am around very conscious people who have kept boundaries and still mingled well with the changes- and they are still Arabs.

I am a busy mother, I do all my cleaning and cooking. I drop my kid to school and pick him, I teach him Quran and help both my kids learn that they are no better than any other human being but they are unique and they can make a difference to this world.

I admit that in our society we do need help (like the idea of the house

keeper). We receive guests every day and we are a very hospitable culture. We cook for 20s and 30s and have to keep ourselves sweet and beautiful. Our houses should be spacious and with two separate sitting rooms for men and women guests. This can be a lot of work for a wife and with the help of her husband only.

I do spoil myself sometimes though LOL, like any other woman in this world..

My Kitchen

Asalaam Alykum Sisters and Hello to all my friends..

I've started a new blog...I've three now, WOoOw..:)..

My new one is going to be about my kitchen's experience, my recipes and trials in the kitchen.

I Love cooking, I haven't started loving it till the last five years, after getting married and specifically when I had my first child.

I love baking bread, cakes and biscuits. I don't mind other things either LOL..

I want to improve my cooking skills and get inspired by others cooking, So I had to start this

Have a lovely day..xx

Continuous Struggle

Life can be a continuous struggle, It is actually.

Every moment is a struggle, emotionally, spiritually, socially, physically and mentally.

Praying on time is a struggle, devoting yourself totally to the prayer is a struggle, the time you spent in prayer is a struggle.

Getting up to pray is a struggle, remembering Allah is a struggle, making time to read Quran is a struggle and a continuous fight between you and Shayt

an. Each spiritual action you want to perform is a struggle.

Controlling your emotions can be a big struggle, being patience when you can loose your temper, meeting people that you would rather run away from, communicating in a specific manner in specific situations, smiling when you feel like crying, chatting when you feel like staying quiet, speaking calmly when you want to shout. It can be a hard struggle when you have to deal with people who hurt you, working on forgiving others when you feel like revenging instead.

It is a struggle when you are in pain and have to cope with it, in grief and have to move on with your life, when you are exhausted but still have to work.

It is a struggle when you have to look different because you know you are on the right path but everyone else is resisting your principles. It is a struggle to wear modesty in a world of respecting women with less cloths on.

This life is a trial, we are rewarded for our patience and struggle to achieve what is required from us.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “There is no affliction which strikes the Muslim except that
 Allah expiates with it (sins), even with a thorn that may poke him.” (Bukharee & Muslim)


I am Back..

Asalam Alaykum my sisters and hello to all readers :)

I am back after disappearing for a while. I had a hectic month. I had two of my sisters in law at my place from the beginning of August till the first week of Ramadhan, then we all went to Oman to spend the rest of Ramadhan there and Eid.

I had to work on an assignment and an exam, then it was my brother's wedding preparations plus Eid. I think I lost some inches and I look too thin now..:)..although it doesn't bother me that much..

I also had a very bad eczema on my right hand that I couldn't do anything about it, It doesn't seem to be triggered by what I was told in hospital, it just appears for no obvious reason.

My latest news is that my boy started school, my eldest is in KG1 now, today is his second day. I miss him so much.

When I took him to the school yesterday (1st day), he was happy about it, then he started looking worried when he saw other kids crying.

When I went to pick him up, the class teacher told me he was sad all day :(, he was so happy to see me. He can be shy and not very social and this is worrying me.

Today morning he asked me at the school to take him back, and hugged me. He broke my heart. I worry a lot but hope inshallah he'll start enjoying it..inshallah

I left my little girl in Oman and my brother will bring her to Bahrain in a couple of days inshallah..I miss her so much.

I am working on arranging my priorities at the moment, so I don't waste my time. I wasn't happy with my achievements last month, so I'll work on improving myself this month inshallah.

Have a lovely week everyone <3

A new talent!!..I guess??

Asalaam Alaykum sisters and hello to all readers...:)

I come from a family of photographers I can say, my father's career is in photography and he loves photography. He has currently done some documentaries on the wild life in Oman, which I can proudly say were so successful nationally and internationally. My siblings and myself have been so lucky to have lovely portraits at our young age when not much good quality photos existed.

My brother has been into photography for nearly four years now, and has been progressing so well and winning some national and international awards on that. I can say that he is obsessed with it as well :D.

My Hubby is also into photography, although not so much now as he is quite busy with work.

Few months back and specifically on April, we had my brother's Malka (3aqd Qaran), which means wedding. He got married. In Oman and almost all Muslim countries, weddings are segregated, where men have their own celebration (Masjid-Mosque) and Women have their own, in a hall or a house etc.

So we had this simple women party, so another bigger one is on September inshallah. It was small and we only had few members of family there, around fifty people or less I guess.

So being the simple wedding, my brother insisted that I should be the amateur photographer that day, and we didn't need any professional photographer!. I was horrified. I love taking photos of my kids and that's it, never attempted doing anything different or more professional. That was a huge responsibility especially taking photos of the bride and groom!!

I thought that I'll mess it up. Thanks to Allah it turned out completely different. I used my brother high tech camera, and took quite good photos according to him. He was so impressed, the bride was happy with the photos, everyone who saw them thought they were taken by pro photographer and most importantly, I was impressed myself.

Now, for the BIG thing on September, I am booked (LOL), I am terrified, but excited as well. I hope photos will turn out even better. Who knows, I might do it as a part-time fun job LOL:D

Burn a Qur’an Day Fails Miserably

Written by: Hamzah Moin

A fringe Christian group from Florida is dismayed at how poorly their planned Burn a Quran Day ended up turning out. “This was the worst book burning event in history,” said book burning enthusiast Jen Kennedy, “Almost as bad as the time we burned ‘Book Burning for Dummies’”

Pastor Terry Jones has stated that he intended for his church group to burn copies of the Holy Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “Islam is a religion of the devil and we need to burn the books of the devil.” When pressed with the fact that most devils would enjoy things being burned he said “go to hell”.

Unfortunately for Pastor Terry, the book burning event turned out to be a colossal disaster. “I took out three copies of the Koran from the library and set ‘em ablaze and now they’re hitting me with this huge overdue fine that I can’t repay. I owe the library $600″.

Other burn-enthusiasts couldn’t tell the difference between Arabic and other languages and ended up burning Hindi translations of Dr. Seuss books. “It looked like the Koran to me.” said John Cleaver. Arabic translations of the Twilight series, Goosebumps and the Bible were also accidentally burned. “I don’t think burning Twilight was an accident.”

Surprisingly, some Muslims are enjoying the event. “I don’t think they’ve figured out that burning is a respectful way of disposing anything that has Allah’s name written on it,” said Abdul Akbar Khan, owner of Taqwa Islamic Bookstore, “Besides, my sales have gone up 300%…I’ve completely sold out of all my copies of the Qur’an. For every book they buy and burn, I can reprint three more copies.”

According to Pastor Terry, he was astonished when someone told him about the 500-year old invention of the printing press and didn’t know about things like “mass publication”. “I didn’t think they could reprint copies of the Qur’an that fast… aren’t they all written by hand?”

Other angry burn-enthusiasts were shocked when they found out that the Qur’an is replicated digitally on the internet and would be impossible to get rid of completely. “Things got really out of hand when people started taking their computers and burning them too” said Cleaver. Half the crowd had fainted due to the fumes of the burning computers.

Things took a turn for the worst when people told the book burners that millions of Muslims have in fact memorized the entire Qur’an. “I heard it’s illegal to burn people so we had to stop the event because it was getting lame” said Terry, who ended up burning his wallet because it was made in Saudi Arabia."

from http://maniacmuslim.com/

Is it only me who is finding this incident funny?!.. What can really kill people is ignorance. Initiating an action of any sort should happen when only you have read, at least little bit, of information of the issue you are targeting. This poor man knew absolutely nothing about the Quran, and attempted a completely silly action, which I am sure he'll regret for life :D..

"Lo! We , even We , reveal the Reminder (i.e. the Quran) , and lo! We verily are it's Guardian" (Quran Al Hijjr:9)

Don't be sad

Asalaam Alaykum muslimat and hello to all readers..

How to deal with bitter criticism:

You will always have to face criticism, which in its onslaught is like an interminable war: it shows no sign of ending.

As long as you shine, give, produce, and have an effect upon others, then disapproval and condemnation will be your lot in life. Until you escape from people by finding a tunnel in the ground or a ladder leading to the sky, they will not desist from censuring you, from finding fault in your character. For that reason, as long as you are from the denizens of earth, expect to be hurt, to be insulted, and to be criticized.

And here is something you should contemplate: a person who is sitting on the ground does not fall, and people do not kick a dead dog. Therefore their anger toward you can be attributed to you surpassing them in righteousness, knowledge, manners, or wealth.

So remain firm and patient when facing their insults and criticism. If you are wounded by their words and let them have an influence over you, you will have realized their hopes for them. Instead, forgive them by showing them the most beautiful of manners. Turn away from them and do not feel distressed by their schemes. Their disapproval of you only increases you in worth and merit.

In fact, you will be able to increase them in their rage by increasing your merits and developing your talents.

If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire is unattainable.


Doing good to others gives comfort to the heart:

The first person who benefits from an act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person.

If you find yourself to be in difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort. Give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions.

An act of charity is like perfume it benefits the user, the seller,
and the buyer. Furthermore, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression, an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine.

The Prophet (pbuh) informed us that the prostitute who once gave a handful of water to a dog was rewarded for that deed with Paradise, which is as wide as the heavens and the earth. This is because the Giver of rewards is Forgiving, Rich, and Worthy of Praise.

O' you, who are threatened by misery, fear and grief, occupy yourself in the betterment of others. Help others in different way through charity, hospitality, sympathy, and support. And in doing so, you will find all of the happiness that you desire.
)


Adapted from the book "Don't be sad" by Aaidh Al-Qarni

Memorising Quran

Asalaam Alaykum sisters and hello to all my readers.

My Husband got me a calender that is specifically designed to memorise Quran. It is a simple calender that has columns where you add on the right the dates you start memorising Quran on, should be seven days (to memorise 2 and half pages).If you follow this system you would have completely memories the whole Quran by Five years inshallah.

Whenever you have achieved that you draw a slop starting from the first day of the week and ending on the seventh day. It should follow a slope that is already there.It doesn't matter how much you memories during each day of the week as long as you have done two and a half pages by the seventh day.

Inshallah I am aiming to start using it to help me memorise on September when schools start and I can get some free time in the mornings.

This is the calender:


At Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“It will be said to the companion of the Qur’aan: Recite and rise in status, recite as you used to recite in the world, for your status will be at the last verse that you recite.”

Memories of Ramadhan

Asalaam Alaykum Muslimat and hello to all readers..

As a very young kid,I was fascinated with the idea of fasting, everyone would fast and seemed happy. So I insisted on fasting myself. My mother tried to convince me not to being very young and I was a thin girl who did not have much energy to cope with hunger and thirst for long time. However, I still did it and the month of fasting fall on summer which is very hot.I couldn't fast for the whole day though because I become too week LOL..

When I was studying abroad ramadhan fall on December, and we had to fast till around 3:30 - 4:00 pm, and I used to break my fast during lectures by having water only. I didn't feel I was fasting as days were short and spent at the university.

I only had the feeling of ramadhan when I used to go to the mosque to perform isha prayer and taraweeh when I could where I used to meet many sisters from different background. I still miss those days..

Do you have any special memories of ramadhan?

As time in Ramadhan flies

Asalaam Alaykum muslimat and Hello all readers...

It is the blessed month of ramadhan. I have been so busy, and have missed my blog. Sometimes I feel I need to right something, but my mind goes blank.

I've had two of my sisters in law in my house, actually they are still here. They've been a great help, and we kept each other busy as well :).

I wake up early to finish all the house work I have, by noon I am exhausted already LOL, and I start cooking for the futoor (dinner) around 3-4 afternoon, then when it is almaghreb (which is around 6:15 pm in Bahrain) we break our fast, then pray then have dinner. After that, I change my kids cloths, Try to put them to bed,,and get sometime for myself. However, by that time I am totally exhausted and just want my bed LOL..

I've an exam and an assignment to submit straight after Eid inshallah which is around the mid of September, and haven't got the chance to do anything!!!..:O

There are some great Islamic programmes shown on TV, but I haven't watched any. I am also supposed to start memorizing the quran using a table that will help me do so in five years, but haven't started yet!!..the hours just fly and you feel you haven't done much..

I read on bed, but I can only read about two pages , at least I read something though :S...I will stick to reading quran and supplicate all day and say my adhkar.

Till I have something meaningful and fruitful to talk about..enjoy your days readers and wish you a blessed time always :)

It all started with a hair cut

Asalaam Alykum Muslimat and Hello to all readers..

I was 13 years old, I've always had long hair till that age. My mother always refused to let me have a hair cut. I wanted it badly (don't know why LOL).

I went to her one day and told her in a confident tone; if I worked hard at school and achieved a high mark that will make me the "third best" girl in my class, will you allow me to have a hair cut?. She said yes..

I've been a good student, just with the average performance, not special or anything. I always did my homework, and was a quiet girl in the class.

I didn't expect a lot from myself, maybe because I haven't discovered my potentials till then. To be the third in the class was something I hoped to be just to have my hair cut.I wasn't sure I was able to achieve it, but still, I worked hard, and gave my studies my full time.

It was the end of the semester, our class teacher announcing the grades, and she is calling my name, oh you have achieved the highest scores in all subjects in the class.. I was the class "number one" girl!!!

Was I, The quiet shy girl that needed lots of encouragement to talk and showed little confidence between her peers and in front of her teachers. My class teacher who was a sweet lady and treated all girls with passion was happy for me. I didn't believe it.I was too excited and happy.All attention was on me for the next few minutes,.my parents were so so happy. Everyone in the family was told about my grades, I felt like a princess that people are discussing my achievement.

The feeling was beautiful, I never experienced it before that day, but accompanied me throughout my life.

I lost interest in having a hair cut. But I gained confidence that made me want to achieve my best, and continue on that path since then.

Do you know where the Pub is?

Asalaam Alaykum Muslimat and hello to all my friends..

Few years back, I was a student in Scotland. I was walking down one of the famous shopping streets, it was early, maybe an afternoon can't remember exactly.

With my hijab on, carrying a bag, holding some books, two middle aged men approached me, they had an English accent, so I was sure they weren't Scottish. They looked lost, and they came to me, I think without looking carefully at this girl. One asked me: " do you know where is the **** pub" (I can't remember what was the name of the pub he mentioned:D).

I was lost, because of course I didn't know where was that,, but was keen to help these people :D.

But within few seconds, they realised that this girl will never know where is the pub!, and the men said in embarrassment "oh you wouldn't know, sorry" and left..

I laughed, and never forgot that funny incident :D

I want!!

Asalaam Alykum Muslimat and Hello my friends..

I just feel the need to write something, anything.
I miss certain things at this moment. I miss being in a place where I can feel cool, not warm in one second and cold next--> and switching the AC on & off.I need real fresh air, I miss looking at something green. The dust outside make me feel down and makes my sinus worse..

I want to have some peace of mind, my brain has been like a PC which got crashed. I can't last on one thought for more than 5 minutes, and can't make it think of things that can cheer me up at this moment. But I am an optimistic person, so brain stop it please.

I get sickness similar to that you get when you are pregnant sometimes in the day.. No I am not pregnant if this is what you thinking!:)

I want to take my children to a place which is outdoor, fun and cool, but I've to wait till November/December to be able to do this.

I want to spend sometime in a cafe, having a hot chocolate and studying.. Just alone. and to forget about the surrounding.

I want to be considered like a little child now, and so be able to say what I think about everyone without being considered rude or judgmental...

Time spent with children

Asalaam Alaykum Muslim readers and hello to all my friends..:)

I've been feeling really bad lately. Well, I am a part-time student doing my masters at home. I am attending 4 days lecture (of each module) every six weeks and then I get to do an assignment and/or exam. This time we had this tough module and we are expected to sit an exam on the beginning of August and to hand in an assignment on the same day.

I'm on a long leave. So at the moment am a stay-at-home mom if you call it this way. I have done my assignment but it needs checking before submitting it. It is a difficult subject and it is taking all my time, specially studying for the exam.

Now I feel really guilty. I am not spending much time with my kids, they are at home with me, physically I am with them, but mentally and time-wise I am not doing much with them.

So I do small things that I think matter and can be useful for a mother who is in a similar situation like myself.

*When I am busy studying/writing, and one of the kids interrupt me, I still give them my full attention and don't get annoyed, smile and listen to whatever they have to say.

*bath time should be a special time where you should stop thinking about what is bothering you and have fun taking care of your child

*hug them and kiss them all the time to show you care and you never forget them.

*meal time should be time to get closer, spend it together whenever you can

*Bedtime story, hugging, reading Quran.

*prayer time: include your kids, let them sit on the prayer mat and have a cosy chat

This is all I can remember for now...

:)

What a beautiful month you are..

Asalaam Alykum my sisters and hello and welcome to all my friends..

I can't hide my excitement that the month of Ramadhan is so close to us inshallah. This month has always brought happiness to me as long as I can remember. I don't mean that special things have happened during this month, no, it is just the spirituality and the contentment it brings.

It brings back hope that things will be better and that I can be a new person again.It brings the best out of me, the part of me that I struggle to bring out all the year, it appears easily with the help of Allah in this beautiful month.

The days seem quieter and I become more productive in all ways. I become active in reading quran, reading my adhkar, remembering Allah and His bounties, even cooking LOL.

It makes all the sad, painful hard feelings vanish and replaced with feelings of contentment and appreciation of everything.

The nights of Ramadhan are just beautiful, family gatherings (when I am in Oman), taraweeh prayers, the religious programs. Even while am with my small family away from my home country, Ramadhan seems as beautiful as it has always been.

The month of Ramadhan is so short though, sweet things don't last for long and so is Ramadhan.

As a child I've been excited about Eid, which is the Muslim celebration straight after ramadhan, but now, it means that the month I love most is over. We as Muslims should be happy with the eid, but for me it brings great saddness that my faviourite month is over, and if I wonder if I will get to fast the ramadhan that will come again the next year.

What has been said about this month?

"Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).." (Quran, al-Baqarah 2:183)

"Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and rightousness" (Quran, al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord" (Muslim).

A beautiful Nasheed on Ramadhan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46I0TgWamP4
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Carrot Cake

Asalam Alaykum Muslimat and Hello to all readers :)
I love baking, but only when I know someone would eat what I am baking. My hubby and kids are not big fan of cakes,unless it is the simple plain one.
So as my parents were visiting me. I thought I would attempt baking a carrot cake, which I got the recipe from my cousin, who got it from her friend LOL..I did some modifications to it but it came out really delicious.

Ingredients:
2 cups self raising flour
1 1/4 cups oil
4 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
3 carrots grated
Juice of one orange
1 cup of chopped walnuts

Icing ingredients:
200 gram cream cheese (e.g. Philadelphia)
1/2 cup icing sugar
70 gram butter

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees
whisk the self raising flour, salt and cinnamon powder together
Now beat oil and sugar together till combined well,add eggs one at a time, add vanilla
Add the orange juice, than the carrot while still beating the mixture, then add the walnuts
Add the flour and mix slowly for a short time.
Add your mixture in the baking pan, into the oven
bake for around 40-45 minutes.

make your icing by mixing the ingredients with the mixer.
when your cake is ready let it cool for a while then pour the icing over it.
Preferably eaten when chilled.

Body Shop; I just love you..

Asalaam Alaykum Muslimat and Hello my friends..

I LOVE body shop, it has been my faviourite for more than ten years.I don't want you to think I am doing a marketing business or am part of them,, oh I wish, but I am not.
I love their value of fair trade and no animal testing or whatsoever,even after the chain being bought by L'Oreal, it continues to have its message..
I love going into their shop whenever I am visiting any mall, even if I didn't buy anything..I love it specially when they have a sale LOL..
Some of my favourite products that I've used before or still using..

(the photos are taken from the official bodyshop webpage:

vitamine E face cream



Gloves



body scrubs





shampoo and shower gels






mist,perfume,lip gloss and others..

My son's photographs

Assalaam Alaykum Muslimat and Hello to all my friends here :)

My eldest son (3 and half) mashallah has been taking my mobile phone for the last few months and taking shots of things that interest him within his environment.
It is so cute and I thought why not keeping them here so I can get back to them and smile.. and maybe inshallah I might show him this in the future where he can laugh at his sweet habit :)
By the way I find him a very good photographer considering his age mashallah :)..
These are only few, He has many other shots of his sisters, her feet, the house's furniture..and more lol..

My little boy's book:



From my cook books LOL..





a potato :D



His toys:










a dough that he took from me lol..