Charity, Kindness, and Random musings

Today I really am feeling hungry, but I can handle it. I'm keeping my mind off the idea that hunger pain sharks are ripping at my stomach. OK, so it's not that bad. It's just uncomfortable. I believe I am keeping control of my temper. Haven't had an argument with my siblings yet. If they do something to irk my nerve, I just keep it low-key. Doing a great job over here, alhamdulilah! :D

Last night we did attend taraweeh prayer. I wore my blue abaya with a blue hijab and white under cap. My friends were all there. The sheik let his son and brother lead a few of the prayers this time, so we had three different types of recitations last night. Alhamdulilah, it was really nice. There were more men there than usual, but not many more women. That's usually the case at our masjid. My friends were talking of an organized sleep-over at the masjid. The young sisters in one room, and the brothers in another big room. To be quite honest, I don't think I would feel comfortable. For one, if we have to sleep in hijab that is no fun. If we don't, what if someone comes in? Two, I don't like waking up looking at a whole bunch of people who have just woken up. Three, what if someone steps on me while trying to get to the bathroom? No thank you, sleeping over at the masjid seems like a terrible idea. Maybe a huge late night get-together, but not a sleep over.
This morning for suhoor we had cheerios, apple sauce, and water. My Mom wasn't feeling well so we were expecting her to cook. I can cook, but I don't like to cook. Rather not risk burning our suhoor, so we just ate cereal. It was really yummy anyhow. I am still trying to memorize surah al-fajr. Tonight insha allah I will do Qu'ran. I don't know if we will be attending taraweeh at the masjid tonight. We'll see what my Dad says.

I have been thinking about giving charity. On my own. As an individual. What could I give as charity? I don't have much money, but I can knit. So I think I will find an organization to knit preemie baby hats for. That would be such a nice thing to do. I love babies. So insha allah I will try to do my best. What about you? May allah bless and reward us all! -Nisa

All I can think about is food...

This is the fourth day of Ramadan. I missed yesterdays post. You know how Mondays are, hectic. So, on Monday we had Oatmeal mixed with unsweetened apple sauce. It was soooo good, and so filling. It kept me full all through the day. I wasn't even really hungry until 7 PM came around, and the hunger pains started their attack. Alhamdulilah, that was a wholesome suhoor. Then we had Spanish rice and chicken for Iftar. We did not pray taraweeh at the masjid, my brother led it at home instead. Yesterday went by so quickly, I forgot that I was fasting. I practiced the surah Al-fajr yesterday for my daily dose of qu'ran. Beautiful surah with a beautiful meaning.

Today for suhoor we had cereal. I had Apple jacks and a banana. Yummy! I do not know what we will have for iftar tonight. I do think we are going to attend Taraweeh at the masjid tonight, so insha allah we will go. I will probably wear my blue abaya to the prayers if we do go. It is a little heavy, but I can handle it. It's not all that hot today either. It's actually very cool. Allah is ever merciful! I'm going to read surah al-fajr again today, insha allah. I have no idea what I will be buying for my friends for Eid. I will probably go to two festivals to do henna to make money. Then I can buy an Eid outfit, and gifts for my family & friends. May Allah bless and reward us all! - Nisa

I'm hungry!

This morning for suhoor my family had Oatmeal and peaches. It was delicious! I'm feeling a little hungry now though, but I think it's because we went out to visit Grandparents today and my aunt was cooking. So now I feel a little weak and hungry, but I only have three hours left! We read a few more pages of Surah al-baqarah after Fajr in both English and Arabic. My reading is getting better, alhamdulilah. Little bro still needs some help, but he reads very well.

I think my family is doing an amazing job of keeping good temper. No one seems irritated at all, and I know that I'm doing my best to avoid argument. That's probably one of my worst traits, quick tempered. Last night we attended Taraweeh prayer again at the masjid and we had Iftar there. I ate Moroccan cous cous, fried chicken, russian salad, Spanish rice, spiced chicken, and mixed rice. Oh, and a piece of chocolate frosted cake. When we came home I had some ice cream, a chocolate donut, and some pistachio nuts. Believe it or not, I did NOT eat as much as it seems. It all tasted /really/ good though. I mean, really.

So insha allah we will probably attend taraweeh prayer again. My Dad is making chicken enchiladas tonight for iftar. I truly do love Ramadan. May allah bless and reward us all - Nisa

Ramadan Mubarak Everyone- From Nisa's Family to yours!

Alhamdulilah, Ramadan is finally here! Last night I attended Taraweeh prayer at the masjid last night. It was really nice, but my feet started hurting half way through the prayer. Insha allah tonight we will attend it again, and we will have Iftar at the masjid. This morning for suhoor my family had pancakes, eggs, milk, and fruit. Yummy! It was a filling breakfast, and I'm not really hungry. After Fajr we sat down and read surah al-fatihah, and a few lines of surah al-baqarah.

It's not really hot outside today. I was a bit nervous about it being hot and fasting. I fast on Monday and Thursdays, so I should be used to it. Alhamdulilah, the weather is really nice today. Insha allah ladies I will try to blog everyday of Ramadan so that I can keep you updated. I seriously can't believe Ramadan came around so quickly this year! May all of you have a blessed Ramadan! - Nisa

Learn some Qu'ran this summer...

So I have a deal with my Dad that if I learn the whole Last Juz, I will be rewarded with a PSP (not that I really want one, I want the money instead!). I am not just doing this for the reward of something materialistic, I want to do it for myself & Allah (swt)! Plus it's a big step towards becoming a Hafiza, insha allah. So, I am trying to work towards this goal. I am going to try to finish the whole Last Juz this summer. Maybe a surah a week? So this week I'm going to finish Surah Al-Bayyinah. One or two ayahs a day for one hour depending on how long the surah is.

I have learned:

Surah 97 - Al-Qadr

Surah 99 - Az-Zalzalah
Surah 100 - Al-'Adiyat
Surah 101 - Al-Qaariyah
Surah 102 - At-Takaathur
Surah 103 - Al-'Asr
Surah 104 - Al-Humazah
Surah 105 - Al-Fil
Surah 106 - Quraish
Surah 107 - Al-Ma'un
Surah 108 - Al-Kauthar
Surah 109 - Al-Kaafirun
Surah 110 - An-Nasr
Surah 111 - Al-Masad
Surah 112 - Al-Ikhlaas
Surah 113 - Al-Falaq
Surah 114 - An-Naas

Surah Al-Bayyinah is pretty easy in the beginning, but I think the last ayah's are the hardest. It's such a tongue twister. :'(



So after that, I'll move onto the next surah. Insha Allah I will finish the whole Last Juz by the end of the summer! If you want to join in the challenge just post what surah's you have learned, what Juz you are going to try to finish, and what surah you are working on. Try to blog about the next surah on the list every week, and also be sure to blog when you finish a surah. May Allah bless and guide us allah! -Nisa

Hey, you big, fat backbiter!

How many times have you sat around in the masjid or just at home on the cellphone bored? You start a conversation with your friend, and you talk about what you did over the weekend. The conversation slowly starts to die until your friend says;

"Hey, remember that really tall girl at the masjid?"

There are two types of back biting, the haraam and the halaal. I am going to address the haraam. Many Muslim girls and women do not actually realize they are backbiting until it is pointed out. Talking about how messy your sisters hijab looked, how bad her kids are, or how big that pimple was on sister Fatimah's face was are all forms are haraam backbiting. The excuse that, "No, it's not backbiting...I would say it to her face!" So why didn't you say it to her face when you were talking and laughing with her at the masjid on Sunday? Why wait until Tuesday afternoon to say something about it to someone else? The worst form of backbiting is making fun of someone behind their back to make someone else laugh!

"Jameelah smells like onions cause her Mama cooks Spanish Rice! Hahahaha!"

Do you not know what Allah says of backbiting, gossiping, and slander?

O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (Surah al-Hujurat ayah 12)

Backbiting is like eating the (human!) flesh of your brother or sister who is dead! How disgusting and repulsive is that? If backbiting is so hateful, why did you tell Amina that Sarah's fingers were bony and skinny? Even though sometimes you may not mean to backbite, you do. We all do. No one is perfect, yet we should try our hardest to avoid it. If you are bored, and you have nothing to talk about...you shouldn't invite people over to your house. That's where backbiting and gossiping usually stems from. Boredom. Keep yourself usefully active in the Muslim community, or talk about the future...anything except for someone else when they aren't present to defend themselves. This doesn't exclude non-muslims! Just because someone you are talking about is not Muslim, doesn't give you the right to talk about them!

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Who protects his tongue from unlawful utterances and his private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, I shall guarantee him entrance into Paradise." (Bukhari and Muslim)

This is An-Nisa reminding you just in case you forgot! (Hehe Baba Ali!) May Allah bless and guide us all! ~ Nisa

The Breeze & the Update

*Bismiallah*

No, the day for my reciting event isn't here yet. The rehearsal is tomorrow, so insha'allah we will be going to the masjid then. I've prepared my index cards, and stuff. I think my friends and I will try to dress in the same outfit colors...hmmm. Oh, I can't find my shoes! :( I am so sad. I had everything all pretty and prepared, and now I can't find my shoes. They may be at the back of my closet, but it's not like I have a walk-in closet. All of my things are impeccably organized, so I have no reason to lose my shoes in my closet. I guess I'll have to keep looking. -sigh- Other than losing my shoes, my grandmother came all the way from another state to visit us & to see me speak! Not only that, but it was a surprise!

Last night as I was lying in my bed a soft breeze smelling of sweet, freshly cut grass blew through my window curtain. Where I live, we have been having cool, breezy weather. Sort of like, tropical weather. It's so nice! I was so thankful for that breeze (and many other breezes), I thanked Allah over and over again. There is nothing like a soft cooling breeze after a rather warm day! Allah is most merciful and compassionate! It set me to thinking about how we as humans take many things for granted in this life. Water, cool breezes, the sun, and the earth in general! We don't know how blessed we are until it's gone. Allah supplies us with the smallest things, yet do you thank him for it? Do you thank him for that beautiful, sunny comfortable day? Did you thank him for the water he gave you to quench your thirst? Did you thank him for that refreshing rain so that your garden could flourish beautifully? Did you thank him for the earth you live on? We should thank Allah everyday for the things we take for granted. We show our appreciation by obeying him, praying our five prayers, saying bismillah & alhamdulilah when we begin and finish eating, and praising him constantly!

"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe." {Surah Ibrahim, ayat 7} May Allah bless and guide us all! ~Nisa