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Role of parents in inculcating Deen in children
17th Ramadan 1437. 22 June, 2016 Role of a parent. It was October of 2006. My first Ramadan away home. Just two months since I joined college. I was the only one in my class who was fasting. Most of my friends didn’t know what Ramadan was. Completely different from 18 Ramadans before. No one to wake me up for Suhoor. No ifthar. No taraweeh at the masjid. For the entire month I ate bread and jam for Suhoor and bread and jam and Maggi for Ifthar. Normal dinner – Chappathi with some daal curry- for night-time. Yet, I survived it. Never did I think of missing any fast unnecessarily…
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Ramadan of my childhood
Ramadan 16, 1437. June 21,2016 Ramadan of the past. Growing up in Doha, Ramadan has always been a ‘festival’. The entire place has a transformation. There is really an aura of peace and tranquillity. In our household of six, Ramadan is always the favourite month of the year. There is an extra vigour for prayer and Qur’an recitation. Suhoor is as in every household – a funny drama. 4 almost sleeping kids trying to munch food at the wee hours while dad helping us recite the “Niyyah” and trying to entertain us with his childhood stories of Ramadan. Mom always encouraged us to finish reciting the Holy Qur’an at…
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10 ways to entertain a 10 month old while cooking
Ramadan post – 8 (June 13, 2016. Ramadan 8, 1437) Every mother who has an infant or toddler knows how difficult is it to prepare food for ifthar with a baby hanging on to you for attention. Especially since ifthar has to be prepared at the exact time – there can be no delay! Add to it guests for ifthar! Though we tend to have limited food for ifthar and I do not cook as much, it does get a little challenging when my baby is vying for attention. I limit my baby’s screen time to almost nil hence to keep her distracted with videos and YouTube is…
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To Sir, With Love
June 12 , 2016. Ramadan 7, 1437 I have just started reading the Quran for the month. Target is to complete it at least once, Insha’Allah. Looking back to the first person who taught me the Arabic Alphabets, then words and finally reciting and memorizing from the Quran – Mr. L. Mr. L was the head teacher at our local religious school. A calm and gentle person who peaceful demeanour made him the most loved by all the students. We often hear stories of Qur’an teachers who are strict and rude. Mine was neither. .. it is his gentle teaching method which made me fall in love with the Arabic…
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Building our Ramadan traditions
Our first Ramadan together as a family. I am busy preparing for Ifthar. Fries and Juice. He was cutting all the fruits. Little girl is having her floor time. She has just mastered crawling. The food is arranged on the table. Little girl’s high chair is also put together. Watermelon and dates are cut in thin vertical pieces for her. (Ifthar BLW anyone, yeah?) We go to the terrace of our building and await for Maghrib Adhan. I can see the workers of the local hypermarket crowd together and get ready for Ifthar. Cars on the highway are rushing past. Time of accepted prayers. Friday – between Asr and Maghrib.…
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6 tips for balancing Ramadan and motherhood
RAMADAN OF PAST Three years ago this is how my Ramadan was. Alhamdulilah. For all 30 days, I completed all what I set out to do. That was during my pre-motherhood, pre-pregnancy, pre-marriage, pre-engagement days. In short, I was single and free with no responsibilities. Alhamdulilah. RAMADAN OF PRESENT Fast forward 3 years later and this is how my current situation is. Preparing for Ifthar while little girl is in her play-pen. Excitedly puts Nouman Ali Khans’ live video on Facebook – Day 1. Beautiful interpretation of Surah Al Baqarah. I was getting into the groove of it when I hear the specific alarm from the play pen indicating it’s…
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Ramadan memories – 2
2 Ramadan 1437, June 7th 2016 (Insha’Allah planning to do a small write – up for everyday of Ramadan. More as a memoir for my little one) My baby is trying to stand by holding onto the furniture or stool or anything she gets for her height. Today she tried to stand using the filled Al Wataniya water can. Unfortunately, her hands slipped and she fell down. Tears. Lots if tears. Cuddling, nursing and more cuddling again, she was back to her healthy happy self. Alhamdulilah 10 minutes later, she was back on the floor, happily crawling and trying to stand again. SubhanaAllah As an infant, failure never demotivate us.…
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Ramadan memories
1st day of Ramadan 1437 – June 6th, 2016 In every Malabar household, Pathiri is the staple diet for Ramadan. Not making pathiri for Ramadan is like having an incomplete ifthar! Pathiri making is a laborious, technique sensitive process. The first part is making the dough. Boil hot water and slowly add in the rice powder to the boiling water and make sure all the powder is wet. First mix with the wooden spatula. Flame off after 10 seconds. While the dough is warm still, knead it with hand well in one single roll. Make small rolls with dough and then flatten each roll with a rolling pin or a…
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Letters to my girl
Hello little girl. You turn 10 months today. A milestone for you. A bigger one for me. Just last week we visited Bangalore, the same place where I spent 5 years of my life doing my graduation. I never thought I would visit the place again when I left it in 2012 , that too with you and your dad. How fast life changes?! You were a perfect sweetheart throughout the 3 days whirlwind journey. No tantrums. No crankiness. I am blessed to have you my girl. Rather, it’s my honour to be your mother. Everyone said me motherhood is tough and demanding. But then, you make it easy for…
