Assalam-alaikam, The Hajj and Eid 2013/1434 edition of Aaila, the Muslim Family magazine is now out. The editor Sister Umm Imran and the team have worked very hard to get it out on time and with some fascinating and useful articles including a reminder about the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hajj which […]
I picked up the idea of journaling soon after I graduated. I guess part of it was because I missed my studies and the knowledge I got to store in my notes (I am a terrible hoarder in so many ways). Another reason was because I love books, including self-help books and wanted to keep […]
I enjoy reading my youngest sisters two blogs – Curly Fries for the eye candy and colour and Harlequin Teaset for the art, humour and quirkiness. Her most recent post: Keeping Our Hijab was a lot deeper and darker, exploring what it is like to wear hijab in todays world and the perceived change in people’s […]
I’ve been craving strawberries recently, so its rather happy for me that the local £1-bowl stalls have started selling these enormous ones.They were just right – sweet and a bit tart. I think I might be craving these for quite some time…
I recently wrote an article for Aaila magazine about gender prejudice amongst parents: I grew up in a loving home, but one that did not escape the South-Asian cultural preference for boys. As one of four sisters to a lone brother, this did none of us any favours. People would commiserate with my mother for […]
You might remember not that long ago we welcomed our fourth child, Darling as Little Lady calls her, into the world. Well I’m slightly amazed that Darling is six months already. Mash’Allah this little one has given me six of the happiest months in my life. She has been an easy going, happy little sweetheart […]
I came across this article today about the work of the humanist psychologist Carl Rogers and this quote resonated deeply: “I have found it of enormous value when I can permit myself to understand another person.Our first reaction to most of the statements which we hear from other people is an immediate evaluation, or judgment, […]
English people have a reputation for being slightly obsessed with the weather and always commenting on it. This probably sounds super boring, but if you could see the weather we have had in the last few days you might think again. As a child, I use to hear my grandfather say “There are two […]
I got into a rather heated debate this week, not heated as in we got angry and came to blows. Heated because although I kept came and explained my approach, I still felt my blood pressure go up very quickly because my beliefs about something very important to me were being challenged in quite a […]
About fifteen minutes from our accommodation, there was a place called Arreton Barns, I saw a sign that said something about gifts and crafts and my curiosity was piqued. We stopped for about an hour to look around on the way to somewhere else and found it to be a pleasant detour. The place is […]
One thing I noticed in Cornwall, everywhere we went there seeemed to be a boot fair. I am an addict of thrifting and bargain hunting and my husband must have seen the wistful looks on my face every time we drove past one, so we eventually stopped for one (have no idea where). I managed to […]
I recently came across these handmade cards by Sister Amirah and absolutely loved them. I know how much time, effort, care and pride goes into making a handmade card and this is definitely visible in these ones. Sister Amirah has these cards available and can also make them with an alternative message such as Eid […]
Alhamdulillah I have come to the end of my tajweed lessons and today was the last lesson before our test next week. The lesson was spent practising in groups and revising as a class, as well as some time reciting the Quran with our ustadhah (teacher) to check for mistakes and improve our pronunciation. I […]
The Pakistani Independence Day celebrations will be going on late into the night outside my house with hundreds of people thronging onto the main road, music, flags, traffic jams, fireworks and a smoke machine billowing green smoke of all things. It’s not often the women and kids get a chance to be out late at […]
