Abu Said Al-Khudri narrated, “Once Allah’s prophet went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) on Eid-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. He passed by the women and said, “O women! Give charity, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were from you.” They asked, “Why is it so, Oh Allah’s prophet?” He replied, “You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands.” (Al Bukhari Book 6, Hadith 301) When I first heard this hadith I... Read more
Exercise makes me feel better. When I adhere to a regular routine, I feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually uplifted. I have more energy. I know that it’s good for my body, my family and my worship to Allah SWT. There have been many times in my life that I have deprived myself of physical activity using excuses like lack of time, the children need me more at this age, I can’t afford to sacrifice my sleep, I need a better... Read more
Every. Single. Time. Every time I learn to be satisfied with what I have, Allah gives me better. I remember the first time I felt unhappy and dissatisfied was after I graduated from high school, and, as a non-Saudi living in Saudi Arabia, was not accepted into the university in Jeddah. The only option I saw in front of me was to study in a Qurán school. Oh God, I thought, this is the place all the old ladies and... Read more
I flipped out on my kids tonight. I know all the strategies out there about how to get your kids to try new foods and develop sophisticated palates. The common denominator as far as I can tell is that you DO NOT force your kids to swallow and finish the eggplant and capers entrée or calamari and goat cheese appetizer, all the while disregarding their protests. So long as they have tried it (my friend uses the 3 spoons rule),... Read more
A tiny tomato seed is planted in the earth. It needs water and sun but slowly it grows from a seed to a tiny seedling and then to a beautiful tomato plant with branches bending under the weight of the heavy, ruby-like globes. SubhanAllah. Even as an adult, I feel humbled. I want to pass this feeling on to my children; I don’t want them to take all the vegetables piled high in the grocery store for granted. I want... Read more
Watching my boys swim in the leisure pool, I turn to my husband Yusuf and say, “There’s nothing like watching them play in the pool. They’re so innocent, sweet and carefree. They’re all smiles! It’s so refreshing just to witness their playfulness while they’re splashing in the water.” Yusuf throws me a puzzled look. I guess he doesn’t see it the same way I do. I cherish these moments when I can watch my kids whether they are swimming, playing... Read more
My family and I recently returned from a 6-week visit to our native Egypt. While in Cairo, we spontaneously decided to take a short getaway to Hurghada-city of the Red Sea. We made reservations at the Hurghada Marriott and purchased round-trip bus tickets for the following week. We wasted no time the day we arrived. After checking into the hotel and changing everyone into their swimming attire we headed off to the beach where we would enjoy clean air, warm... Read more
For two weeks after having Khadijah, I had the baby blues. It wasn’t full-on post-partum depression, but every evening, when the sun set, I would start to cry. It would last a few minutes, my husband would comfort me, and that was it. And after two weeks, it went away. Part of it was hormonal, I know. But I also had a tough time adjusting to having a baby. Much of it was what most moms go through – uncertainty... Read more
“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, or him who can find a way to perform it.” (The Holy Qur’an, 3:97) Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and thus an obligation on all who are capable. Going on hajj, though, can seem cost-prohibitive for many. In browsing various hajj packages, I’ve seen prices ranging from $5000 to $8000 per person. That’s a lot of money! But by setting goals and implementing a budgeting system that... Read more
She is the Wedding Speaker. Perhaps that sounds unamazing or cliché to you, but to me and those who know her, it’s an amazing feat. I was speaking to a friend on the phone a few days before her wedding, and she asked me to give a small talk on her special day. ‘Uhhhh, what about Um A?’ I asked. She’s a happy speaker masha’Allah, and she always manages to make people smile. And come to think of it, she’s... Read more
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