Subhan’Allah, the month of Dhul-Hajj is upon us: Rasulullah (sallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the ibaadat (worship) of each of […]

We don’t celebrate New Years in our home, except for the fireworks with the kids from their bedroom window and seeing if there is a good kids film on the TV on New Y ears Day at my mums. However the changing of the year is as good a time as any to reflect on […]

Warning – may contain some spoilers for the first book.This is the second book in the rather extensive Dune series written by the above author and then his son with a collaborator.The first book, Dune, is set some 20,000 years in the future and centres around the aristocratic House Atreides – one of many royal […]

This week has been super busy and chaotic with preparation for Fashionista Sisters wedding.  With our penchant for fun, this has somehow turned into a long series of parties, with a few more days still to go.  Last Friday was Fashionista’s henna.  This involved a few days of preparation on the part of sisters, sister-in-law […]

I always think it’s nice to remind people in a positive way and food is always my favourite opening to explain my faith. I like to send sweets to my children’s classes for the children to share out along with a card wishing the teacher and children a happy Eid.With Christmas coming up and entering […]

We wanted to take the kids out for a day during the autumn half term holidays.  One of the problems we are starting to face, is finding somewhere new that everyone can agree on.  The kids want theme parks, or at the very least “no more castles and old houses”, I hate theme parks and […]

With the winter holidays here and Christmas falling in the coming days, most schools in Western countries are busy with Christmas related activities and parties. Certainly my children’s teachers are organising parties and there are pretty lights and Christmas trees and decorations everywhere you look. Over the years I have explained to my children that […]

I had some nice news today. I recently asked my new employers about a prayer space or room and my manager said she would for arrange me a temporary space and ask the planners for the new building we are moving to about a more permanent area to pray in. She told me today that […]

The kid’s summer holidays started yesterday, with goodbyes and gifts for teachers and six weeks of rowdy kids for us mums to keep occupied. There are some things I am dreading: Gorgeous waking everyone up early in the morning with his singing and being so loud Darling can’t nap during the day, Little Man moaning […]

Assalam-alaikam, I realise it’s been a year since I last wrote and in that time I have had moments when I yearned to write and others when I wondered if I ever would again. Then today I realised I have this little pocket of time for myself every day between clearing up after Iftar and […]

Something that is very important to me is bringing my children up in the best way possible.  For me this means raising them with good manners and good character and this includes being strong in their faith.  I have tried my best, but I always feel that I could do better.  I suspect this is […]

I got a phone call from my middle child’s school this week asking me to come in.  I asked what it was about and they said not to worry.  For a brief moment I did entertain delusions about being called in for a good reason, such as he being recognised as some kind of child […]

After a Ramadan with long days of fasting, an intense job and hubby being away, I was more than happy not to be hosting Eid lunch for the family.  My mum insisted she would cook for everyone and no one objected. I still had to cook so that we had something to eat at home: […]

I love the ebb and flow of the days during Ramadan. In some ways it is so different from the usual days of the month. The day time naps, the long evenings with lots of time to do things before dinner, the surreal feeling of being awake in the small hours of the night. I […]