Masjid crawl

This ramadan has been so full,its been brimming. i felt work was taking over and
i needed something more spiritual. i found out about the MYF qiyam on wednesday night and i wentfrom isha till fajr. It was so much fun seeing all the ladies in one place, qiyams are incredibly beautiful for so many reasons, the closeness you feel to Allah, the sincere lightness of spirit from all there, the fact that you see people you havn’t see since last Ramadan. ahhh that was the beautiful part the not so joyous part was that I had work the morning after and literally jumped on the bus just before sunrise to get to work and survive a full days work. How I managed to stay awake for 24hours only Allah knows.

Then on Friday night, round two arrived and we stayed in the MYF till 3am when the twin announced that Didsbury Masjid was completing the Qur’an in a couple of hours, WOW but more then that there is nothing quite like a Didsbury Du’a especially to mark the completing of the Qur’an. MD and I jumped in the twins car and of we went. it’s a joyous surprise when the Iman is reciting the Qur’an and you realise you know more surah’s then you think you do. The Du’a was lived up to the Didsbury expectation.

Then we left jumped back in the car and made it back to the MYF for Sehri, fajr and the Du’a. For some strange reason I feel like my Ramadan is over now, its probably because I can’t possibility top up these last magical couple of nights. Alhamdulilah now that I made up for the initial dip in the middle.

I wish It could be Ramadan everyday! But then the essence of Ramadan is to carry all the lessons we have learnt.

Beginner's cooking

Feasting on everyone else’s offerings was making me feel that it was about time everyone feasted on my offering. Cue “The Osborne beginner’s cookbook” and a very motivated Naima. The results:

Meatball in tomato sauce ( with peppers, onions, mixed herbs...) with pasta



fudgy apple crumble with custard.



I experiment on MD, Sarah and little AD. They lovvveeeeeeeed it, my worries about starving in Egypt are long gone. I am actually on a high, what an achievement. Next time am doing this on a much larger scale inshallah.

They might look rather simple but am so proud! my first meal

aahhh

Wow i have had another absoultely hectic week, but this time its because am training with NTL , subhanallah its so much fun, not because the training is not challenging (which it isn't) not because my follow trainees are simple (which they are) but because its just a nice, relaxing atmosphere and since virgin merged their outlook is if the staff are happy this will translate to good customer service which will translate itself to revenue.......blah blah.

What it means for me is i get spoiled, i have eid off if it falls on a monday, i can take the prayer room key from the reception when ever i wish and 2 of my follow trainees are soooo simple bless them that they make me smile.

The first week of the 6 weeks training is almost over and am loving it. Alhamdulilah NTL or the egypt fund as am terming it simply rocks.

The arabic lesson are coming along nicely ( my head still hurts) and iftar has been the most adventurous yet. we have had

libyan food
English food ( roast dinner)
good ole somali food
indian
italian

and thats all i can remember.

full plate

The headache that is getting prepared to applying for a pgce is immense, especially when you’re fasting, trying to save for 6 months in Egypt, spend quality time with family and friends, attend tarawih, iftaris, a 9 hour intensive Arabic course, go to school placements. Is it any wonder i am starting to get a tad stressed!

A full time job

My banker of a sister would be so proud, I sat down a while ago after booking my ticket for Egypt and calculated exactly how much I would need for my accommodation, course, living expenses and a few trips to Sinai and Aswan maybe luxor and so on.

Anyway was I was starting to become a little anxious that I might not be able to meet the amount that I need to save per week (16 weeks to go till I leave) but truly allah hears our du’a because out of the blue I just got a call saying I will be starting my new job this Monday and I will be training for 4 or 6 weeks which is beautiful because I won’t be straining myself during Ramadan.

I am so pleased, am getting excited about studying, Arabic, Tajweed, the Qur’an. Ahhh utter bliss Alhamdulilah, don’t you just wish it could be Radaman everyday of the year.

This also means I can help with Radio Ramadan more too inshallah, White African invited me, MD and Sarah to the show a week ago and our first show was so controversial, what did we cover I hear you asking… women being allowed in the masjid.

Yeah I know what made it controversial we simply don’t know, refer to White Africans report.

http://whitelibyanafrican.blogspot.com/

White African

Our white African has turned a quarter of a century yesterday , So Whitey ;) I found a little something which will inshallah go someway to describe how we feel about you.

A true gift from Allah

Sometimes in life,you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your lifejust by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believethat there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked doorjust waiting for you to open it.This is Forever Friendship.

When you're down,and the world seems dark and empty,Your forever friend lifts you up in spiritand makes that dark and empty worldsuddenly seem bright and full.
Your forever friend gets you throughthe hard times, the sad times,and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away,your forever friend follows.If you lose your way,your forever friend guides youand cheers you on.

Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay.And if you find such a friend,you feel happy and complete,because you need not worry.You have a forever friend for life,and forever has no end.

You Whitey are our Forever friend. May ALLAH Always keep you with us! As native would say Much love homie

Tarawih

My current in-between-student like job or money earner for the egypt fund as i am calling it, is in the city centre. I was starting to panic about the possibility of missing Tarawih prayer but Alhamdulilah Allah being incredibly merciful, I walked into the MYF in town one tuesday and picked up an iftar time table to discover that at the back they were going to be open for Tarawih this year ( cue the heavenly music ahah ahhhhhhh).

So yours truely comes out of work at 9pm and within 3 minutes is in the MYF praying Isha and Tarawih in congression. I am so very pleased, the recitation is beautiful and the dua at the end of witra always brings tears to my eyes.

And all the time i am thinking INSHALLAH next Ramadan i will be standing here, but instead of listening to the melody of the imans voice and the sincerity that his tone conveys i will INSHALLAH be able to understand what i am saying Ameen to!

I really thought having to work such random hours during ramadan for egypt was going to be taxing but subhanallah its so easy and that is truely a blessing. I am so in love with Allah right now its filling my little sinner heart.

Please remember me in your dua's as i will

Unemployment & Ramadan

I would recommend a short period of unemployment to anyone. The sheer freedom, the joy not having to go to sleep early because you have work in the morning, the joy of being able to get up for tahajjud knowing that you can sleep in in the morning! Messing around with your friends and family?! Do I miss working erm….God no!!!! Role on the good time, role on.

Oh and I have decided at as a believer my word will be worth its measure in Silver ( am not a fan of the yellow stuff) so I have been writing all my engagements in my diary and doing my utter best to fulfil them. Today was such a test, I have 4 promises to fulfil and while out and about to fulfil 3 of those I got caught up in the rain, the buses were diverted and I have to walk throughout the rain, I was miserable but no way was I going to fail 3days into my self-development programme so I ploughed on and alhamdulilah I made it all ( I might have caught pneumonia in the process but hey)

No wonder Allah says Muhammed (SAW) came to perfect character, and the jihad of the nafs is the utmost jihad, May Allah (SWT) reward us for our efforts!

The Blessed month is upon us again and as usual it has come quickly but inshallah we shall make use of every single day. All power and might is to Allah who has blessed us with another month of Ramadan. I can’t wait for the feeling of peace and tranquillity for the hunger and thirst which makes you reflect for the opening of the fast with those that you love, for the genuine acts of kindness which are abundant during Ramadan, for tarawih, for the reciting of the Qur’an for the knowing smiles.

Elevator ride with a difference

In a bid to lighten the mood and transcend the previous episode, I have found a list of

21 thing to do in an elevator ( the imagery alone is hilarious cow this is your you)


1. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.
2. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers thatthis is your "personal space."
3. Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering: "Shut up, dammit, allof you just shut UP!"
4. Whistle the first seven notes of "It's a Small World" incessantly.
5. Sell Girl Scout cookies.
6. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
7. Shave.
8. Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside ask: "Got enough air inthere?"
9. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator. Wear yours upside-down.
10. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
11. When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then actembarrassed when they open by themselves.
12. Lean over to another passenger and whisper: "Noogie patrol coming!"
13. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to callyou Admiral.
14. One word: Flatulence!
15. On the highest floor, hold the door open and demand that it stay open until you hearthe penny you dropped down the shaft go "plink" at the bottom.
16. Do Tai Chi exercises.
17. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: "I've got newsocks on!"

18. When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back: "Oh, not now, damn motionsickness!"
19. Give religious tracts to each passenger.
20. Meow occassionally.
21. Bet the other passengers you can fit a quarter in your nose.
22. Frown and mutter "gotta go, gotta go" then sigh and say "oops!"
23. Show other passengers a wound and ask if it looks infected.
24. Sing "Mary had a little lamb" while continually pushing buttons.
25. Holler "Chutes away!" whenever the elevator descends.
26. Walk on with a cooler that says "human head" on the side.
27. Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce "You're one of THEM!" andmove to the far corner of the elevator.
28. Burp, and then say "mmmm...tasty!"
29. Leave a box between the doors.
30. Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.
31. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers "through" it.
32. Start a sing-along.
33. When the elevator is silent, look around and ask "is that your beeper?"
34. Play the harmonica.
35. Shadow box.
36. Say "Ding!" at each floor.
37. Lean against the button panel.
38. Say "I wonder what all these do" and push the red buttons.
39. Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.
40. Blow your nose and offer to show the contents of your kleenex to other passengers.
41. Bring a chair along.
42. Take a bite of a sandwich and ask another passenger: "Wanna see wha in muh mouf?"
43. Blow spit bubbles.
44. Pull your gum out of your mouth in long strings.
45. Announce in a demonic voice: "I must find a more suitable host body."
46. Carry a blanket and clutch it protectively.
47. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
48. Wear "X-Ray Specs" and leer suggestively at other passengers.
49. Stare at your thumb and say "I think it's getting larger."
50. If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler "Bad touch!"

People you have to try some of these

The sorrow of parting

I helped my littler sister move into her accommodation at Liverpool on Friday I was rather mean when she was exchanging goodbye hugs with my parents, I would drop a few words to remind her of their scarifies and struggles in brining her up. My mother carrying her for 9 months etc I succeeding to make her cry (Ifrah hates to be seen to cry)

After she whacked me a few times with her bag we boarded the car and started the drive towards her new home for the next 3 years. We got lost but eventually made it Alhamdulilah. During the journey we had a chat about her expectations and her fears (poor love was scared) understandably and rather bitter towards Manchester for not offering her radiotherapy course.

We arrived, dumper her stuff and when along with her best friend (the ever entertaining Asia) to get some food. Hmmm I didn’t warm to the city, it can’t possibly compete with Manchester I mean this is a city with one Masjid (poor ifrah) and being such a coconut am sure it wont help that the Masjid is in somali central (about time she socialised me think)

Friday night came and to both our horror ifrah Forgot to bring her Duvet and pillows…At first we laughed about it but my the time fajr came and the aches and pains of sharing a single bed without a pillow not to mention the unbearable heat radiating from the sleeping bag we used as a cover, I cracked and took my sleeping bag to the floor providing ifrah with jackets as a cover.

Saturday was emergency shopping day and all praise to the lord ,TJ Hughes was situated around the corner. Then it was food shopping and by out 4pm we were introduced to the most corrupt muslimah we have ever met. Ifrah has the misfortune of sharing a flat with poor ifrah.

By 6pm while ifrah and I had taken refuge in ifrah’s room from the erm…Muslimah who was encouraging us to go clubbing later on…while putting her bottle of wine next to ifrah’s orange juice and introducing us to her boy friend (ahhhhhhhh….poor ifrah)

Ahamdulilah by 9pm a decent muslimah arrived who was just as daunted as ifrah by the trauma of moving away (a budding friendship of need ensued). By Saturday 11pm Ifrah was adamant she was coming back with me on Sunday and changing course, after about an hour of crisis management she had managed to suck up her fears and got down to making du’a for Allah to provide her with good company.

My Sunday morning we learnt that one of the girls was moving out (unfortunately not the alcohol gosling muslimah) and that a Malaysian sister is moving in. Ifrah has a very high opinion of Malaysians and is now making Du’a that the sister is practicing.

Make dua for my baby sister ( when I had to leave her at the train station, from the train I saw the tears forming on her little face and that broke my heart, I cant imagine how my parents must have felt as she boarded the car to leave. I can honestly say It was the first time I have ever carried on a train but thank god the man next to me was asleep. They say you never appreciate your parents till you have children of your own. Lets just say I appreciate them a little more now that my baby sister is out in the big wide world all alone. May Allah grant my parents jannatual Firdaws and provide ifrah with a solid group of Muslim sisters Please make dua for her.

Cairo or Alexandria

When ever I think I have weighed up my options and come to a conclusion. I change my mind (typical of my decision making process) but I wish I could just settle on a city in which to study.

Cairo is… well Cairo, there is a romanticism about studying in such a bustling city. The city of a thousand minarets, the home of Azhar Masjid and university, the citadel of Salahadin, Khan el khalili and on the other hand we have the pyramids, the sphinx of Giza. So I guess with Cairo I would have an incredible source of Islamic history to draw inspiration from and the excitement of living in one of the most populated cities in Africa

Alexandria, for one of the great wonders of the world it doesn’t actually have much to show for it although currently there some excavations taking place. But one thing Alexandria has is water (one of my single most important requirements for tranquilly). I would clearly be able to view the sunset and sunrise from my window and when the fancy took me sit on the beach reflecting and learning some vocabulary. This in itself has a strong since of romanticism as well.

I guess the choice ultimately comes down to which I value more at this point, excitement or tranquilly, the hassle and bustle of Capital city life or the quieter (more) authentically Egyptian way of living. The Nile or the Mediterranean Sea.

I suppose if I felt the need for Cairo I could always jump on the train (apparently first class is only a few pounds, starling)

At this point it would appear I am leaning towards Alexandria. Too much choice can be just as daunting as too little choice. Insha Allah Khayr

Amazing? odd more like

I have been tagged by Native female to come up with 10 amazing facts about myself... good god it has been a trying test but since MD who i thought would never get around to hers has well and truely beaten me to it.

Here is my rather revealing and somewhat embarrassing list

1) I almost always see the funny side to a situation, the knowing twitch of an angry person or the compulsive stroking of the head when one is stressed or the erratic hand gestures of an excited person. I notice these individual express so well that sometime I will mimic someone for a lengthy period and see how long it take for them to notice ( such a cheap thrill).

2) I have a very high threshold for embarrassment, I am one of the first to laugh at myself and probably the last (comes from years of practice)


3) I have a knack for walking into the most unexpected situations but alhamdulilah I can almost always get myself out of a situation. ( again years of practice).My decision making is so erratic and unpredictable that even those who are close to me find it difficult to keep up with me.


4) I have no qualms about showing affection, I tell my family and friends I love them often and give them hugs abundantly. In this vain I reinforce and reaffirm personal qualities and attributes.

5) I make friends very easily when I put my mind to it, (mainly because am blessed with a sense of humour) but I sometime especially in very temporary situation I calculate if the energy is worth the friendship and if not then I almost undergo a personality transplant and become introspective to keep myself occupied ( rather disturbing I know)


6) I can do numerous things all of which are not necessary for survival ( basically I can’t cook) and I loath shopping ( but I can last a few hours of ceaseless wondering from shop to shop if you ply me with abundant chocolate and the shops have somewhere to sit. Strangely though I can spend hours looking for the right present)

7) I am addicted to travelling and a certain urge overtakes me after a while and I need to take of to realign and feel centred sometime just a change of scenery is necessary ( my poor parents and any future spouse)


8) I have perfected the art of tea making and have an excellent memory for how everyone likes their tea (probably because it’s all that anyone ever asks me to make.

9) I am an obsessive thinker, I will spend aeon cataloguing all the possible consequence that an action will incur and then weigh them up. Although sometime I allow my heart to rule my head and I will do something despite my better judgement or what the cost to myself because a principle is at stake. Probably the primary reason why people ask for my advice.


10) I am easily impressed any acts of kindness, ny new sights and sounds and
Sometime almost literally I loose myself in the place and experience behaving as if I were a kid in a sweet shop. This can lead to me talking and answering myself (yes I know…?)

I can’t imagine what I have missed out accept am an incessant talker but a great listener too (comes with being a middle child me thinkth) I am imbued with energy and I walk with a spring in my step I bob up and down noticeably as I walk. I am rather blunt with those am close to but very tactful with those I am not, I am ridiculously easy going and can cope with almost anyone.(again middle child trait me thinkth)

I am going to stop now! enough said

WA i am waiting for your list.

I tag LostKitty, Cow (jug and evertheidealist along with flowerlady are an absoulte lost course when it comes to blogging so

WA, Lostkitty and Cow its up to you

Hi-larious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR24vl1FLm8

Mistake

Damn, don’t you just hate it when retrospectively you wish you had done something differently and although now it seems to your mind almost painful that you took that course of action and you ask yourself?

“What on earth possessed you?”

But at the time as hard as it was it seemed like the only thing you could do. There in lies the beauty of learning from your mistakes I guess.

Although how you judge something as being a universal mistake I am not sure. Just because a particular method didn’t work in a particular situation doesn’t not mean that the actual approach is wrong maybe just that it was wrong for that particular situation.

Which then complicates the “beauty” of learning from your mistakes? Or maybe am just desperately trying to stave of a wave of cynicism that is upon me like a black cloud bringing immanent mancunian rain.

God bless the Flight Centre

I walked into the flight centre with MD just to get a few quotes to work with. As
my usual sources of cheap tickets were failing me miserably and i was getting ridiculous quotes for Cairo which were heart breakingly expensive

So when the consultant at the flight centre looked at his computer and said NM British airways is having a sale which ends today at 6pm the ticket is...... basically £100 less then all the other quote our system is showing up (concurrent with the ridiculous qoute i was finding)

the only down side being you have to book your ticket before 6pm or it jumps back up. ermm let me think about that....NOT so I handed over my card and brought my ticket and to add to the sweetness of this ticket am going from manchester to london to cairo so no painful waits in any eastern european countries!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Its official inshallah i am off on the 26 of jan and i return on the 14 of july. The last two weeks i am going to be joined by the ladies and we are going backpacking around egypt!!

I can't believe the deal and the way i just woke up and thought it was any other ordinary day!!

Alhamdulillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Winds of change

The winds of change have taken residence in our household. All this because a certain sibling has done fantastically well in her A-levels (yippy) and is now of to study at Liverpool for the next 3 years (absolute pants).

My other baby sister, has also done fantastically well in her GCSE’s and is about to start her A-level.

I have made a few lives changing decisions of colossal proportions since I last blogged. Here they are:

One: I have handed in my resignation at work.
Two: I have decided to study Arabic in Egypt, starting in January (5months inshallah)
Three: I have decided that from sept 2007 I will be open to marriage proposals and actually consider them.
Four: I have taken up knitting (due to jughead) and with what I have learnt so far I can make winter scarf. Any one interested?

Oh and as always to mark a change in the world of Naima I am once again moving bedrooms since Ifrah is of to Liverpool Firdawsa and I will become roomies and study partners.

It’s with glee that I am planning the redecoration of what will be the hub of Firdawsa and I’s new centre of learning and of course partying.

From September I will be working mad hours trying to save enough for my planned 5 months in Egypt INSHALLAH, as well as trying to learn as much Arabic as possible during the weekends and mentoring in a school to gain teaching experience

Ramadan is going to fall in the middle of all of this! A sheer test of endurance am sure but inshallah the reward will be greater then last year.

Bosnia!! Well what can I say? Lots I assure but Mad cow has been keeping semi typed notes which she promises to post soon I will post a link to our memories then inshallah.

Suffice to say it was incredible and the sheer number of tears I shed the last night is testimony to how much I loved the place and the people. May Allah grant us the opportunity to meet again. AMEEN!!

Farewell (for now)

I don’t know what’s over come me but am sat here looking up first aid instructions, sipping a mug of coffee and making a mental list of the presents am going to take to our Bosnian hosts you would think that would be an easy job but am running low on inspiration. A last minute dash tonight on my way home I think, if it really is the thought that counts then they can revel in the knowledge that I have been thinking about what to get them for days now. Inshallah Khayr

I am debating about whether to pop into the MYF and say my salam’s to the usual crowd or run home and have a hot bath. Aside from all of these thoughts that are preying on my mind, there is one thought or emotion rather; I am brimming with love for all those am leaving behind. I usually just pack the last minute take off and return, but this time around its not a quick 3days work trip it’s a lengthy stay, that’s two jummahs that I won’t be prostrating at the MYF.

For someone who wants to travel and go from one adventure to another, I am really going to miss you all. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the prophet (SAW) said if you love your brother then tell him.

I leave you with lots of Love and the du’a of the traveller for those she leaves behind

“I leave you in the Care of Allah, as nothing is lost that is in his care”

We leave just after fajr tomorrow and return on the 21st of august inshallah

Tell I return, farewell mis amigos

ITN

When I woke up this morning all was well except that I was running a tad late. By about 12pm I was informed we would need to take part in an ITN interview, by 4pm I had done the ITN interview along with Genie (sleepyhead, jug). It’s viewing this afternoon at 6.30pm on channel 3. I am hiding tell people forget!!

World currency

I went to the future seminar held at Didsbury Masjid this Sunday instead of packing for Bosnia (looks like its going to be a last minute thing) and all the talks were fantastic and Shabir Ally did an excellent job of raising funds for the CCIS. After the large figure donations were collated the buckets came around, and since am not carrying my cards around anymore (learning to curb by spendthrift ways) I only had my bus pass and some change, the change I had already spent on food so by the time the buckets came around to us, after frantically fishing in the numerous pockets of my bag I had located

8 pence
25 cent
2 fronts (Hungarian currency)

So that’s what I gave to charity! This not carrying my Cards business really does have its down side. I must admit I did feel rather embarrassed and released the change from my grip at the bottom of the bucket. Not sure what this says about me except I can’t wait till I learn to use my money appropriately and I am able to walk around with cash and cards so as hopefully to never repeat this episode. The only plus is that my mum thought it was hilarious and said something to the effect of that will teach you… teach me what am not too sure, maybe to prepare

How I love thee

Oh man, I had a dream about Egypt last night, Cairo to be exact! It was beautiful, I dreamt about the death defying taxi rides, the call of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer, sitting in the court yard of Azhar masjid, the serenest of masjids I have ever been blessed to spend time in.

Particularly Islamic Cairo where everyone greets you with a heartfelt salaam. The view from the hotel, the staff who would try to teach us Arabic but never showed their frustrations at our inability. The wedding we accidentally stumbled onto as we walked into the Hilton to change money which was characterised by the sound of the drum and ululations of joy at their union.

I woke up with a cold, feeling miserable and blocked up and I wanted to cry! How is it possible to miss a mere place so much a year later to be so bewitched and captured. To have it hold on to your affections and imagination a year after returning home? We where only there for 14 days for the love of God, how is it possible to miss and long for a place so much when all my loved ones are here?

I miss the

The lulling effect of the Nile
The death defying taxis
The crossing the road with “Bismillah” just in case
The hospitably and sincerity of the locals
The cementing of life long friendships
The hypnotising call to prayer, especially for fajr
The brother’s unique way of making you buys 10 items when you went to the stall/shop for 1 item.
Tje haggling over a cup of mint tea

I need to go back and get Egypt out of my hair, I am sick with love (okay manly with a cold) for the country and the people.