Al-Quran

Assalamalikum dear sisters in Islam (and everyone else reading)

I dont know how many of you would routinely check my recitation chart page on here but if you do then you will see that I have just changed my 'blue' surah because... yes you guessed it, Ive learnt a new surah masha'Allah. Surah Al-Qariah has now been added to my list of known surahs alhamdulillah. I finally bit the bullet and started it after a push from a few sisters and the guilt within myself to not have done anything about my memorisation in so long and not really doing much different for Ramadhan due to my work schedule.
I already knew the first three verses from similar verses in shorter surahs and as I have already admitted I was very nervous about facing this 11 verse surah. Its the longest surah I know.. the longest beforehand has been surah al-humazah at 9 verses. It was a daunting task but the good thing was there wasnt too many hard letters (you non arabic speakers know the ones Im talking about!! that ayn and ghayn!) alhamdulillah.
With knowing those first few verses I think I had it in my head the rest might be as easy but then I also had it in my head that because they were easy enough the rest would be an enormous problem.
Anyways, about a week ago I was sorting out the apps on my iphone and needed to log into my old laptop, since getting married we tend to use my husbands massive 19' screen laptop for everything. I turned it on and started playing about with some things, it was then that I came across the software I had been using awhile ago for my memorisation from the ImaanStar website. Its initially to learn juz 30 but then you can download the rest of the Quran in sections, even from a few different recitors, there are also books to download (which I just realised) I found it very useful then and was very excited so I downloaded it onto my husbands computer. You make a profile and then add all the surahs you know off by heart to the sidebar to see at a glance, then you can choose the next surah, there is arabic and a transliteration, the option to repeat each verse a number of times, to give a pause inbetween repeats, to repeat the whole surah after it has finished and many other things. Masha'Allah I love it and I pray for the rewards to be given to the makers of this program insha'Allah.
So yes, Ive learnt my new surah... yay me :) Im at work at the moment, but I cant wait to get home to colour the star in on my chart on the fridge :D how old am I again? ;)

Peace and salams
Ammena

My Mood

So yes.. Ive said it... Im ashamed of myself... :( I still havent learnt my new surah :( So in the space of nearly 2 years of marriage I have learnt 1 surah... 1 surah!!! astagfrillah.. I just cant get the push to do it and I do know that the thought of a 12 verse surah is very daunting to me.. I contemplating learning just the arabic like I did for my last surah (al-humazah) I have learnt the first 3 verses alhamdulillah.. but they are repetition and a borrowed verse from another surah :( 

Memorising

As you know Im trying to learn a new surah.. it isnt going well because I just cant get the push to start but that isnt why Im posting. Im wondering how you all learn your surahs (for the non arabic speakers) and if you do learn the english, how do you keep it in your head.. Ive found that I dont really remember much of the English that I originally learnt and feel guilty for this.. but do I continue? Or go back to relearn the English.

Isnt it important that I should know what Im saying five times every day?? Feedback welcomed

Quran

so it was recently pointed out to me by a close sister that I havent been paying much attention to my Quran learning since I got married, and she was very right.
Since I got married November 2009 I have learnt one surah although this was a big one and I think that the task of learning more has become more daunting since learning this surah. From now on we are into the big surahs.. for me anyways *blush*
Im relearning this surah at the moment as I forgot the last little part and then insha'Allah Im moving onto the next surah which is 11 ayat long... daunting I tell you!!!

And again

...... once more, feeling special?? lol

So, Ive been given my official start date today, September 7th :) which will be the last week of Ramadhan. Ive written to the manager to make sure they are ok with me taking the three days off for my wedding, so we will wait to see what he says. Currently Im writing out my letter of resignation to print out at work (cheeky eh?!) and give in tomorrow insha'Allah.
Grandad is still in hospital, they have an operation to do but will only decide whether to do it based on some tests he has to go for. Basically they wont decide whether to put him in for the operation until mid September :( otherwise he will have to have a catheter inserted for the rest of his life, which I cant really see him doing. Allahu alim.
We are still looking at cars, thinking more of a VW now, a polo perhaps or a toyota avensis, we have been watching reviews on youtube lol :) I would like a newer car with me being out at such random times.. my mum suggested getting a taxi to work for a few weeks (and the bus back in the afternoon) so we can save up a little extra money, we will see... Have to also figure out the parking situation too, insha'Allah we may have found a way around it as our neighbour parks his van in the customer car park for the shop we live above so we will see if we can do the same thing insha'Allah.
Ramadhan is nearly here... are you excited?? prepared? Im actually not as prepared as I thought I would be this time last year.. but I have certain books I want to read, stitching I want to finish, lectures I want to listen to and surahs I want to memorise so insha'Allah.. what are your plans ladies? Ive already made a batch of samosas, going to finish them this weekend, then try my hand at making the pastry and making meat samosas (well hes going to do the meat bit) Also going to make a batch of coconut biscuits, gingerbread biscuits and Im planning on a few new dishes throughout the month insha'Allah

Bedtime for us... peace and salams,
Ammena

During Ramadhan and after

I was just thinking before that I never really kept you up to date with what I was doing during Ramadhan so here goes, obviously wedding plans were put on hold with the date being pushed to November insha'allah and it wasnt really something I wanted to think about during fasting times. So I was grateful for that alhamdulillah.
The things I did manage to do I was pleased with alhamdulillah, I wish I had done more, more was intended.. but Allahu alim. What did I do I hear you ask :) well I managed to learn surah at-takathu at last alhamdulillah and I was so grateful for doing that eventually, it seems to have been hanging over my head for so long. Now insha'allah I can move forward and learn some duaas and the next surah.
I did manage to fast for all the days of Ramadhan that was possible for me alhamdulillah, Im currently making up my missed fasts then will move onto the 6 sunnah fasting days of Shawaal insha'allah.
I helped out on a charity project with a youth helpline in London and had intended on helping with my local dawah table, alas that didnt come about cause I only really talked to the brother mid Ramadhan and then I was working on the days they do it (only sunday) but insha'allah I would like to help out in the future and they know that so look out Kingston!!! ;)
What else did I do? Oh I finished reading my quran early alhamdulillah actually super early all on my brand spanking new phone (not sure if thats the right word to use when talking about Ramadhan) I got an iphone the end of the month which I have been waiting for for sooo long :) and I love it alhamdulillah, its come in useful so many times already and Ive only just started to play with it heehee. I already have the Quran on there and lots of audio duaas which I intend to fully utilise insha'allah.
I did also manage to keep ontop of the extra prayers I intended to do and have carried this on since Ramadhan has finished alhamdulilah. Its something that I am beginning to feel much better abotu myself with alhamdulillah. I have always prayed the 2 rakahs before fajr and the 2 rakahs after maghrib, now I combine these with 4 before & 2 after dhuhr and 2 after isha aswell as 3 rakahs for witr before the fajr adhan masha'allah.. I quite shock myself sometimes *blush* but im grateful to be able to do these things alhamdulillah.
Well thats it for now.. been off work today trying to stop a cold before it starts, going to my uncles house tomorrow with my cousin to retrieve some items that my mum wants to keep so not really looking forward to that.. but life goes on :| Allahu alim, to him we belong and to him we return.
Bedtime now cause Im up early in the morning... so keep reading ladies.. fi amenallah

Bored

Seeing as Ms ES commented on the fact that I hadnt changed my mood for 2 days I thought I would change and explain. So my current mood is why I havent changed it... yes peeps.. Im bored!! I have no car! and havent been out the house for the past 2 days, insha'allah Im planning on going to see my poorly great auntie down the road today so that will get me out. I have an eye appointment tomorrow and insha'allah Im going to stay at my cousins for a night over the weekend (if she isnt working) so thats the future plans. Actually, my friend from school came over with her nearly 5 year old yesterday, she stayed for a few hours... talked about things with my mum, future plans, my religion (she was the first person that I really told about my conversion and has always been there for me alhamdulillah)
My Grandad came back from Malta yesterday... he was supposed to be there for 3 weeks, but came back after about 10 days... dont ask!! old people! *rolls eyes*
On a totally random tangent.. ES was good to speak to you the other week :) I miss you.. Anisah, got an email from n-ti telling me about a closing down sale they are having.. are you able to get there?? Someone has given me a kick to get back into my stitching and my learning masha'allah.. surah at-takathur here we come insha'allah. Now Im home alone and off to watch LMOTP :D

Salam girls... yes I know Ive been MIA but Im back insha'allah. Ive just been soo busy lately with little things but I assure you I havent stopped missing you girls and writing my blogs.

So what have I been up to lately? well I just found out last wkend that my mum has a cyst on her ovary (well I knew that) but now the doctors are saying it could be malignant, so please remember our family in your duaa insha'allah. Which didnt start my week off well, Allahu alim.

Before then Ive been busy sewing my little project for a sister in UK at the moment, (see attached pic) and another one that is on the back burner for a friend over here in canada. Ive been working too, obviously.. and this week ive been on funny shifts doing some training during the day. Mon, tues & thurs (today) ive been on days.. so was really tired today as i was working until 11 then in at 8am.

I got a shock the other night.. I bought a camera in april on that buy now, pay 6mths with no interest.. so I was planning on paying it off after the summer and I was lookin at the bill the other night. I saw that the numbers were moving and increasing.. so I started freaking out becuase I have really stayed away from riba since the necessary purchase of my car. I read the front of the bill and it said that my card had been cancelled april 31st (i bought it apr 1st) due to the discontinuation of the credit program. So im really freaking by this point and hardly sleep that night planning to have a go at the ppl there the next day. So after work i go to the place and start asking questions.. she eventually tells me that the increasing number is what my balance would be if i was payin interest, but im not.... erm. why do i need to know then?? I was fuming at the company for being soo misleading but alhamdulillah no interest to pay.. but this month is a toughie financially, got my plane ticket to pay $300, my citizenship papers $200 and my laser $500 yes that last one is my own fault.. but i have saved up the money for that alhamdulillah.

What else have I been up to? Oh yeh... you probably noticed.. I learnt surah al-Qadr alhamdulillah and after chatting with Kate about some sort of routine and stumbling across this I realised that I could be doing some duaa before moving onto the next surah. So scrolling down the screen I saw that we should be saying astagfrillah 3x after every salah with the first duaa mentioned on the page... so alhamdulillah I decided to learn that, 2 days and Im done and incorporated it into my salah. So now I make this duaa, recited ayat al-kursi and then subhanallah x33 alhamdulillah x33 allahu akbar x 34 and i feel much better for it. So my question is.. if im prayin maghrib where there is 3 fard rakah then 2 sunnah rakah.. do i do this after the sunnah or fard rakahs??? anyone??

I also have another situation tomorrow.. I have the opportunity to start work early, which would mean leaving early too probably around 10pm.. but if I did start then, that would mean me missing jummah... so what to do? go to jummah and work until 11pm, or miss jummah and come home at 10pm?? opinions welcomed. JazakAllah khair.

Anyways, thats enough from me, im hot and sticky and need to sit down. Keep in touch girls, fi amenallah. Your sister in Islam, Ammena

My day

Assalamalikum girls, so today it started snowing again.. but it was only little bits, then stopped long enough for me to get the push to go drive to the masjid for jummah. Alhamdulillah once i got there the stuff fell from the sky for ages and I was dreading driving home, but alhamdulillah (again) the stuff hadnt stuck. So for jummah i got there at 1250 ready for the khutba in english as was told by a friend, I waited and he started telling all about all the trials and tests the prophets had been through, the 952 (i think) years Noah (alayhi salam) did dawah for masha'allah. That took me to 130pm, still no sign of anyone other than some young girls from the school, and I noticed alot of people were walking past the area I was sitting in and going up some stairs.. hmm, where do these stairs lead I wondered. So in the end i stopped a young girl and asked her, she told me she thinks thats where the ladies go, so I walked up the stairs passing by many pairs of shoes and eventually came to 2 doors. One of the younger girls went through a door that leaded to a little room, which I came to the conclusion is an area for say... women with children or who arent praying, this room then lead to a massive area, ok I reckon you could prob fit about 150 women there masha'allah, for women to pray that over looks the guys area downstairs. I always thought downstairs was too small, fits about 30 at most. So im all happy and excited, I pray sunnah, because I already prayed my 2 rakah for entering the masjid downstairs. Then i sit back and wait for salah. Masha'allah it was soo nice and im so happy i went, I will insha'allah def make this part of my friday timetable and find out if they have the congregational prayer on the other days too, which they should do shouldnt they??

Anyways, I didnt waste my time while i was sat downstairs on my own, Im currently learning the qunut duaa for witr salah.. Ive learnt the english alhamdulillah.. Im supposed to be learning it with my algeria forum girls and the date was feb 28th, yes its passed and i apologised to Allah for not doing this,, but my intention is still there insha'allah. So, while i was sat around wondering where all these women were disappearing off to i learnt the first 4 lines alhamdulillah... and theres only 5... masha'allah, so insha'allah tonight or this weekend i will finish it all.

Well, I should really be leaving for work about now... but got to get food ready. Insha'allah Ill catch you all soon. Oh and check out my website girls.. got a vote going on, sign the guestbook & got a new timer that lets me know where my visitors are signing in from Fi amenallah

The past few days, islamically

Assalamalikum girls,

ok, so finally on friday morning I eventually managed to drag my sorry behind down to the YMCA where i contacted the sister about the muslim sisters get togethers. Masha'allah she was really nice, greeted me with a smile and a salam and eventually we were able to talk. She told me about what she does at the YMCA (which i didnt manage to remember) then we talked about her involvement at the masjid. She told me she was part of the committee there, they get together every now and again and discuss areas which they can do things for, they decided for her to be involved with the youth of the community masha'allah. She commented that Cambridge doesnt really have many things going on, which i instantly agreed with and told her that, that would have to change. Alhamdulillah she grabbed hold of my hand, shook it firmly and let out an 'alhamdulillah' Being involved with YM back where I lived before cambridge i was sort of used to there constantly being able to go somewhere even if it was just for a social aspect and I really regret not taking more advantage of it. Allahu alim. So tomorrow, Im going to a volunteers meeting at the masjid to meet the other people and see what ideas they have. She told me that generally they go from 12 - just after oneish... then pray dhuhr and some people stay for social things, so im praying insha'allah that i meet some girls around my age.

A few hours ago I started to learn the qunut duaa that goes with the last rakah of the witr salah, alhamdulillah Ive got the english down, just... so now im waiting for some girls on my forum to break down the arabic for me... line by line... this is how i learn them. Im also, still, reading purification of the heart... found a gorg abaya in uk for only 15pounds includin p&p so insha'allah dee or someone will let me send it to their house, then I will pick it up when im next home insha'allah.

Anyways, Ive just eaten and im a little stuffed... so Im gonna leave it here for now. Insha'allah you will write and i will write soon. Miss you all. Fi amenallah

Sleeping duaa

Assalamalikum, well as promised to 2 special girlies... I found a duaa for before you sleep and when you wake up. Now there is lots of duaa you can say, the ones Im posting are from a daily duaa book that I bought heres the link* so I will post the transliteration and the english.. if you want the arabic let me know, and insha'allah i will try try try to sort something out.

Before sleeping

Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya O Allah, with your name I die and live

After waking

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur All praises are due to Allah who has given us life after taking it away and to Him is our raising (on the day of judgement)

Wahey!!

Assalamalikum sisters, ok.. so finally Ive learnt the surah Ive been learning for ages May Allah (swt) forgive me, surah Quraish. .alhamdulillah, so 6 and counting now alhamdulillah. Just wanted to let you all know cause Im happy and I just woke up heehee.

My afternoon

Salam sisters, Ive been quite busy this evening and wanted to tell you all what Ive been up to. So the girl I car share with, shes gone to Poland for a month so Im driving on my own for the time being. Its nice, being able to leave when I want and do things after work. Tonight, after work I went to the gym for an hour... it was nice, I pushed myself a little bit more because well Id like to move into Ramadan in some sort of shape insha'allah. So i ran, cycled and did the machines, mainly my legs, arms & abs... heehee, what else is there to work on?? lol. Then I went for some food shopping, the gym is in the shopping centre, and bought quite good stuff. Watermelon, bananas, oranges, nectarines, noodles, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, some milk (which I drank on the way home), grapes and some bread... then I drove home, this was just after 6 so the traffic wasnt too bad alhamdulillah. Then I got home, unpacked the food, and put some washing in the washing machine. Checked my forum... 1 post, ate some watermelon & watched coronation street. Now im here writing this.
In relation to my... strengthening my deen thing, well I decided to forget about that list thing I made.. wasnt useful, Im just gonna write it down insha'allah. Anyways, I bought something the other day my new quran masha'allah its really good, it has notes about each chapter, arabic, english & transliteration, and footnotes.. alhamdulillah I love it. And also, I learnt the duaa before sleeping, I didnt realise but it was sort of sticking in my head bit by bit. Yesterday I went to a masjid to pick up a book i left there ages ago.. alhamdulillah I eventually found it, but before finding it we had to wait because there was a sheikh there giving a talk. I wasnt too sure whether it was the khutba or just a talk, and eventually realised.. so I was listening to some of the things he was saying and he mentioned the importance of saying this duaa before sleeping. Listen to this sisters.... Imagine... passing away in the night, you are pure because you should be clean (wudu wise) before you sleep but if you say this duaa you are even purer as if you where saying the shahada at the time of death... thats what I got from wot he was saying anyway, hmm... mayb I shouldnt write this if im not sure... ok, so anything wrong is from Me & shaitan, only God knows everything. Allahu alim.
Ok.. so that is what Ive been up to, nearly finished my shahada stitching too... insha'allah Ill have it finished soon. Keep in touch. Fi amenallah

Quraish

Assalamalikum everyone... just wanted to let you all know Im learning a new surah insha'allah. See subject for what surah so far im just listening to the audio and writing down how i would say things.. I will then, insha'allah learn the english, then the arabic... I find it easier this way cause then i know what Im saying and i will learn a line of arabic at a time until im confident to say the whole thing. So even when I dont know it all i say the rest in english... hee hee... remember this jane?? hee hee.... So far, this will be the 6th surah i know. Sometimes i feel bad that I dont know more.. Allah alim...

Well, just wanted to let you all know. Fi amenallah

Im in pain

well I had my bottom 2 wisdom teeth took out thursday, as i said underneath... subhanallah I couldnt believe how massive they are, God only knows where i store these things. I was gonna take a pic and post it here.. but im not too sure if that woudl be appreciated... lemme know if you wanna see. So at the moment, Ive got hamster cheeks, mum says i look like ive got the mumps. Insha'allah it will go soon, apparently they popped out, I was told they would cut them in half cause they were impacted.. but they didnt even have to do that. And they never stitched me up either.. dunno if thats good or not, apparently im better than my mum was when she had hers out.. but that was centuries.. no sorry, decades ago only joking... Theyve put my on penicillin and tylenol with codeine... i aint takin the painkillers unless i need to... i dont like taking em for anything really.. even my painful womens problems, Im a tough 'un hee hee.. but i gotta take the antibiotics until they are finished.. which isnt long really.

So I started back at college today, man it was hard... think cause of the drugs and pain i wasnt totally focused... insha'allah things will be better next week, I do seriously have to do some work on that though insha'allah.. and it was only reviewing stuff today. It was good to see my old classmates though, although there werent as many there today that should have been, insha'allah there will be more next week.

What else is there to say?? Im sure i had something else to say... lets see, teeth, college, oh yeh... insha'allah u will all be pleased to know that ive learnt the final sentence of the surah i was learning.... alhamdulillah, so now i can add surah Al-Kauther to my knowledge of the quran alhamdulillah. Now have to find another one.. and the rest seem so much longer than the 3 i know... make duaa for me that the next one will come easy. I want one that means something... not that they dont mean anything, I mean something that has a higher meaning to it.. Oh forget that, I really dont know how to put it into words... insha'allah you understand my meaning and noone takes offence from this...

Anyways... I gotta do some more reading of my book.. ok, I dont got to, I want to.. hee hee, my english has gone terrible since coming to canada.. but alhamdulillah I still have my accent... that wont be leavin me insha'allah.

Fi amenallah, your sister in Islam

Get ready...

....I have a feeling this is gonna be a long one...

Sorry its been so long since i last wrote, insha'allah this entry finds you all in the best of health and iman.. So I had a panic this morning, I woke up to pray fajr only to realise I couldnt remember the last line of surah al-nas.. subhanallah, I was nearly crying with frustration. I could remember the first half of the last line.. then my memory went blank. Alhamdulillah when i got home this evening i remembered to look it up and used it for praying asr when i realised the ending... It was weird.. I felt so lost with only 1 full surah to recite.. yes i still havent remembered the last line of the surah i mentioned i was learning... its the 'and he who hates you, he will be cut off' its sooo long... Insha'allah ill do it by the end of the week.

I got an email today from my cousin back home with some shocking news... my half sister is 4 months pregnant, i know i say i havent got any siblings.. cause i dont really count them as my family, these are my dads kids from after he left us... I think i should fill u all in on a few things... my mum & dad divorced when i was like 1 1/2yrs old.. i dont ever remember him being there, which i think is a good thing.. and from the things hes done to me in the past im glad of this alhamdulillah.. he went on to have 3 more kids and i dont really get on with any of them... ive tried to patch things up with my dad, given him numerous opportunities... and all of them have blown up in my face.. he just isnt an emotional person and doesnt know how to show the slightest emotion towards me.. i havent spoken to him since june, he has email and knows my number.. I can understand him being wary of phonin cause my mum might pick up the phone... but thats his choice... Apparently he isnt pleased with the newcomer.. thats what my cousin says anyway... i can imagine, insha'allah this baby will be brought up in a better environment, Allah alim...

I was up-to-date with my work, then this was noticed.. so they gave me loads more to do... it was ok last week, cause i couldn't pray so was ok with gettin the extra hours for some time i have to take off on thursday... Im getting my other 2 wisdom teeth out... which im not too pleased about.. its gettin done at the dentist which will be a change (havent done that since i was a kid) Im just worried about the way they do things... Nitrous oxide... 2 injections... suppose thats my biggest worry but also, when i was a kid they gave u gas to knock u out then shoved the needle in ya.. now im gonna feel it... ooh.. ok, less talk abotu that, Im gettin nervous now..

Also, got my passport back alhamdulilah... now i can go home or to the USA with one of my good friends when she visits there... she goes to this massive muslim community with loads of islamic shops and hijabis everywhere masha'allah...

Anyways, best go pick it up.... insha'allah ill write soon.. Fi amenallah

assalamalikum sisters,

insha'allah this blog finds you all in the best of health and iman.. so what have I been up to?? Not much really... Working, as usual, I really have to sit down and send off some c.v.s somewhere cause this job is really wearing me down. I need to find a place too.. insha'allah im looking at some this weekend.. insha'allah i find one soon... cause i need my own space!!! Does anyone else feel like this with their parents?? Subhanallah, I luv my mum to pieces, but she just cant leave me alone.

So Ive got a busy few weeks planned.. insha'allah on saturday Im going to Canadas wonderland on saturday with one of my bessie mates over here which should be fun!! She has a few things for me to pick up, some books and stuff insha'allah so looking forward to that. Then sunday insha'allah go and see some apartments, monday is bank holiday Wahey!!! Then next weekend... insha'allah go to wonderland again (gonna get a season ticket, there i can definately go to muslim day next year insha'allah) then sunday might pop down to niagara to see my mums friends.. theres a nike outlet down there.. so might look for some new trainers too..

Also ive decided.. that starting now.. Im gonna do something islamic every week insha'allah.. this wk Im learning a new surah.. Al-Kauthar- a river in paradise.. I know the english alhamdulillah, so the next task is the arabic insha'allah... so make duaa that i sort this out by the end of the week... I wanna know more surahs to choose from in my salah, especially for Ramadan insha'allah.

Well thats enough from me for now.. Im sure i wanted to say more, I was thinking of what to write on my way home... well I did mainly what i wanted to do and that was post the photos... check out the crafts projects on my pictures... I made this cross stitch for a special sis of mine alhamdulillah... I love the design and Im so proud of it, insha'allah ill make more. And the pic on my profile, the new one in dark blue hijab.. I dunno if you can see it properly, but its hand painted masha'allah soo pretty and a bargain at $8 alhamdulillah.

Fi amenallah

Your sister in Islam