Ramadan Journal Day 20: A Noble Tradition

Bismillaah.

This month has really flown by subhaan Allaah.  We have reached the last ten nights already, alhamdu lillaah!  May Allaah accept all of our deeds, forgive us our sins and shower us with His mercy, ameen.

I have enjoyed keeping this Ramadan Journal and hope that it has been beneficial to those who’ve been following.  During these last ten days, I’ll be trying to increase in praying and reading qur’an, as well as preparing for Eid al-Fitr.  So this may be my last post until Eid, Allaah knows best.  However, my Ramadan Journal would not be complete without mention of one very symbolic aspect of Ramadan, and that is the musaharati.

The musaharati is a man (sometimes a woman) who walks around the neighborhood near the last part of the night, usually about an hour and a half to two hours before fajr (dawn), beating on a drum and singing a “wake up” song for all the fasting muslims to take their suhoor (pre-dawn meal).  My first Ramadan here, to be quite honest, I found it to be quite annoying actually, being startled out of a peaceful slumber by what sounded to me like a child banging on a pot with a wooden spoon, two whole hours before fajr time!   I thought to myself, why is he waking everyone up with his noise so early???  Who needs two hours to eat and drink???   Ughhhhh!!!

But subhaan Allaah, Allaah softened my heart over the years, and this being my 6th Ramadan in Egypt, I have grown to love and look forward to this noble tradition, mashaa Allaah.  It’s something really heartwarming so I thought it’d be nice to share it hear in my Ramadan Journal.

I have been trying all month to get a video of him going around, but I am never fully awake when he comes (around 2:15 am), so although I’ve set my alarm ahead many nights, as well as put the camera on the nightstand on many nights,  I still have yet to get him on video.

It’s the last ten nights, and I’m planning to head to bed right after typing this post so I can wake up early for qiyam (may Allaah strengthen us all to stand for prayer at night, and accept it from us, ameen), so hopefully I can get some footage of him and post it on Facebook inshaa Allaah.  Stay tuned …….

Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded from ‘Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: “He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time.”

Aisha reported that With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari]

May Allaah grant us all Laylatul-Qadr, ameen!

Ramadan Journal Day 16: An Update

Bismillaah.

I’ve been focusing on playing catch up with my qur’an reading, so I had no choice but to put the Ramadan Journal on the backburner for a few days.  I’m still not caught up, but I felt the need to post an update before any more time went by.

This week we did a simple fanoose craft.  I got the idea from my dear friend Hawwa Umm Mariam, who happened to be featured on Grow Mama’s Ramadan Spirit Contest mashaa Allaah.  You can see her and her kids’ pretty fanooses here.

They were very easy and super fun to make mashaa Allaah.  Ours came out pretty similar.

Fawanise Ramadan

On Thursday we attempted to take the kids for an outing to our favorite park/playground, Gardenia.  It’s a nice little quiet spot owned and operated by the military (which is known for its clean, well-kept parks and clubs).   We’ve been frequenting the place for, oh, about a year or so I guess.  We like it for the clean, quiet atmosphere, as well as the safe playground equipment, all of which can be hard to come by in Cairo.

It also has these nice sitting areas where you can kick back and relax and order tea and refreshments, all for a really low cost mashaa Allaah.

Alhamdu lillaah, it became our little *spot* mashaa Allaah.  (Can’t you tell why?)

Unfortunately, they’ve decided they will no longer allow women who dress a certain way to enter.

“Niqab is not allowed,” they told us.  “An order, by fax, from the general, that came 3 days ago.”

I hate to be discriminated against.  I really *HATE* to be discriminated against.  Especially by muslims.  Make du’aa for this ummah…self-hate is a sad, pitiful thing.

No big deal, it’s their loss, ya know?

So we headed over to another park that wasn’t open and wouldn’t be opening until after iftar.  We called around to get info on some of the indoor playrooms, but learned that they too wouldn’t be open until after iftar. 

In the end we ended up just going home.  It was one of those “this society is so annoying” days.

Today is Sunday and I’m at my sister’s house (YAY! ).  We’re doing iftar and a sleepover inshaa Allaah.  Tuesday, my “Coolio Canadian Cronie” is coming over for iftar inshaa Allaah, and Wednesday is the employees and families iftar at my husband’s job.

I’m still way behind on my qur’an, so I don’t know when the next time I’ll be able to post again.  Maybe towards the end of the week inshaa Allaah.

Ramadan Journal Day 10: Lessons in Bravery from Historic Muslim Battles

Bismillaah.

"Al-Andalus"

I was originally looking for some information on the 1973 Ramadan War between Egypt and Israel (today’s the 36 year anniversary of that battle), but couldn’t find anything simple enough to present to the kids, and I’m not versed in the history myself, so instead I decided to go with the story of Tariq ibn Ziyad’s conquest of Visogothic Hispania, also known as Al-Andalus.

Throughout history there were many battles the muslims fought AND WON during the month of Ramadan, which I think is amazing with the weakness and exhaustion that can come with fasting.  But as we know, it is Allaah that grants victory, not men or weapons.  ALLAAHU AKBAR!

Inshaa Allaah we will watch a video on youtube about it, and I’ll have the kids make some kind of picture or something about it…although they’re getting bored with hearing stories and drawing pictures about them, lol!  So we’ll see what happens, maybe we can come up with something different and creative together.

Fried steak fillets, melokhia, rice.

“O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allah you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter.”  (Al-Taubah : 38 )

Ramadan Journal Day 9: Going Back to School

Bismillaah.

The kids are not the only ones going back to school after Eid…Mommy’s going back to school too!  (inshaa Allaah)  I took my placement test today and was elated to find that I hadn’t lost that much…I got into the last level I completed, so that wasn’t so bad.  Besides, after an almost 4 year hiatus, I could use a  good brushing up on grammar and stuff.

I”m so excited I could BURST!

I started studying Arabic at Fajr Center back in May 2004, shortly after we arrived in Egypt, studied a few levels, and then took a break to give birth.  I’ve gone back to study a couple times after that, but could never get into a consistent flow with always having a young child, and the house and  home just needing so much of my time and attention.

This year all the kids will be in school – INSHAA ALLAAH – which will make it easier not only to be in school, but to actually be able to study and excel.

Alhamdu lillaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!

I have been waiting for this time for sooooooo long.  And making lots of du’aa.  It’s been hard not being able to have what you want, when you want it, but Allaah has been merciful, enabling me to fill my time with other beneficial things in the meantime.

I absolutely love learning the Arabic language – being able to understand the Qur’an when I read it, or an islamic lecture when I listen to it is a feeling that just sends chills down my spine.  My Arabic is ‘good’, alhamdu lillaah, but I have bigger plans for the future and nothing less than complete fluency in Arabic is a must.

So inshaa Allaah classes start a little bit after Eid.  Make du’aa that I can see this dream to the end!

In other news, we went over to my sister’s house where she had the kids do the “Suhoor Menu” and “A Day of Fasting” activities from TJRamadan.  After that I went to visit a close friend who lives in the same building who had just come back from ‘umrah mashaa Allaah.

Brazened chicken, green beans, rice.

“Then after them We sent Moses with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them. So see how was the end of the mischief-makers.

And Moses said: “O Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of all that exists.

“Proper it is for me that I say nothing concerning Allah but the truth. Indeed I have come unto you from your Lord with a clear proof. So let the Children of Israel depart along with me.”

Pharaoh said: “If you have come with a sign, show it forth, – if you are one of those who tell the truth.”

Then Moses threw his stick and behold! it was a serpent, manifest!

And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white (with radiance) for the beholders.

The chiefs of the people of Pharaoh said: “This is indeed a well-versed sorcerer;

“He wants to get you out of your land, so what do you advise?”

They said: “Put him and his brother off (for a time), and send callers (men) to the cities -

“That they bring up to you all well-versed sorcerers.”

And so the sorcerers came to Pharaoh. They said: “Indeed there will be a (good) reward for us if we are the victors.”

He said: “Yes, and moreover you will (in that case) be of the nearest (to me).”

“O Moses! Either you throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?”

He (Moses) said: “Throw you (first).” So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic.

And We inspired Moses (saying): “Throw your stick,” and behold! It swallowed up straight away all the falsehoods which they showed.

Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect.

So they were defeated there and then, and were returned disgraced.

And the sorcerers fell down prostrate.

They said: “We believe in the Lord of the all that exists.

“The Lord of Moses) and Aaron.”

Pharaoh said: “You have believed in him (Moses) before I give you permission. Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know.

“Surely, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all.”

They said: “Verily, we are returning to our Lord.

“And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the Ay�t (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims.”  (Al-A’raf : 103-126 )

Ramadan Journal Day 8: Ramadan Memory Cards

Bismillaah.

Today we made Ramadan Memory Cards, courtesy Umm Abdul-Basir’s blog.   It was really easy mashaa Allaah and the kids (and I) had lots of fun coloring all the little pictures.

The card sheets were supposed to be printed out onto card stock, but since I have no idea what that is, and most certainly don’t have any lying around here anywhere, we just printed them out onto regular printer paper, glued them to large pieces of colored construction paper, colored in the pictures, then cut them out into cards.

Oh, and by the way, here’s the chart I had Rahmah make for the qur’an reading contest:

She made a chart with 4 rows for each person in the contest.  Then she divided each row into 30 parts.  Each time a person finishes a juz’ (part) from the qur’an (there are 30 parts), he/she marks off a box.  I’ve purposely left the names out of the picture so as not to embarrass obvious slackers, lol!

Don’t forget to keep us in your du’aas.

Shakshouka (brown lentils in a savory tomato sauce) with eggs, white rice.

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie.

Verily, your Lord! It is He Who knows best who strays from His Way, and He knows best the rightly guided ones.”  (Al-An’am : 115-117 )