The Radical Middle Way!

Below is a small extract from a speech given by Shaykh Habib Ali Jifri you can read the whole speech on The Radical Middle Way website see link on my links!

'Do not be afraid in this country. You are a part of it. Feel that you have a responsibility towards improving it and remedying its ailments. Be open about your attendance at masjid and take an active part in the Muslim community. If you see good, follow it through, and if you see wrong, be the first to reject it. If someone wants to do harm to the country in the name of Islam, we are the first to reject him. If you find a shortcoming in yourself, then stand in the middle of the night, offering two rakaahs, weeping before Allah. Then you shall see the outpouring of His Divine Aid, empowering you to overcome yourself. By this, you will truly see wonders.'
Shaykh Habib Ali Jifri

What a View!

Im always continuosly astounded by the beauty of Allahs creation Allahu Akbar! Imagine having a view like this! SO simple but peaceful such beauty masha'Allah. It may not be a mansion or an expensive villa but doesnt it offer what a home should a sense of tranquility and calm masha'Allah! This isnt my home (I wish) infact it was a picture I found on someone elses blog but I was so struck by it that I thought to share it with you all! It reminds me of a beautiful Island called Lamu which is off Kenya which I visited with my husband a couple of months back. Ill try dig out some Lamu Photos and post them up with a short link of the lovely time we had there (not including a cockroach which insisted on tormenting me the whole night following me around) ewww! Forget that and just admire this picture! Now take a deep breath doesnt your day feel better already!

Preparing for someone special!

Just for a moment sit back and relax! Ok now get your imagination caps on! Think of who to you the most important guest could be and they were going to visit your home... best friend, husband/wife after a long trip of not seeing him/her, inlaws, the queen lol, your favourite scholar who you look up to, your future wife/husband I dont know but someone very very important!
Imagine the preparation you would go through in order to make it as perfect as possible right! The cleaning, polishing, airing out the rooms, perhaps depending on your circumstances you may even actually go and buy a few new things like cups, home decorations etc. Now would you tell them to come over at a time when you knew that all the preparations had not been completed? No not at all you wouldnt as you would want everything to be perfect so you would call them when everything had been done.
The house is now sparkling, smelling so good, food is absolutely mouth watering, the best plates have been taken out the table is set looking too good to touch, you even have an amazing exotic desert everything is like its fit for royalty. What does this say how you feel for this person... you care alot about them, you love them! You would not go through all of this for someone you didnt love and didnt care for right?

Well just think a preparation greater than this took place for you, for me, for us all for mankind for our arrival and who was our host? We had the best host Allah (swt). Before placing mankind on earth Allah had prepared it in such perfection made it so beautiful, provided us with all the provisions we would need to survive and live comfortably. The greenery, the delicious foods, animals, the earth Allah prepared it for us. Did you know that water originates from stars? So even the substance that we can not live with out water has gone through such preparation... When a star explodes a reaction takes place creating the water so next time you have a drink of water take a good look as its actually billions of years old Allahu Akbar!
Now of course all this preparation is nothing for Allah it didnt tire him out, He didnt need rest after it, it did not diminish His limitless powers in any shape or form so the lessen we take from this is that Allah loves us, Allah loves mankind, before placing us on earth He made sure we had our needs. We should be so greatful to Him just as we would be greatful to anyone who invites us to their homes we even take a box of chocolates or flowers when invited somewhere to show our appreciation for them inviting us but what about Allah? Allah doesnt need offerings from us such as chocolates or flowers but we should always verbally praise Him, thank Him, turn to Him alone, make sujood (prostration) to Him and you know what is so great is that by doing all these acts of thanking Allah it doesnt benefit Him in anyway in fact in only benefits us as it increases Allahs love and blessings for us Allahu Akbar! And just as (well I hope so anyways) just as we would not abuse the home of someone who had invited us to their house we should not abuse this earth which Allah has blessed us with. We should respect it, respect each other take care of each other and the earth by planting trees, recycling, not wasting, not littering and so many more ways. So all of you who have read this take a moment to think and contemplate and thank Allah (God) for all you have for blessing you for loving you and prostrate to Him as He is the only one deserving of it!

This one is for you Waranga!

Now who can honestly say they have a more modern means of transport than this? Ive also heard its low on fuel consumption... all it takes is a batch of hay! Watch when this model comes popular how suddenly the price of hay rises! This is the transport in Morocco! Enjoy!

TRIBUTE TO ELEEN MY SWEET FAIRY FRIEND!

Eleen no way have I forgotten you in fact I miss you dearly! For those of you who dont know Eleen she is a wonderful wonderful wonderful person very good friend of mine like my sister from South Africa... thats pronounced Sooouth Africa! Right Eleen?
Since you went back ive missed you alot and still remember our long talks and discussions our time we spent drinking good coffee while talking about so many interesting things... I was actually remembering just the other day how we weeded my garden porch with forks as in cutlery forks remember it was hard work but alot of fun! How are you? Email me your number again! And come back to London I miss you!
We still have to climb a mountain I say lets make it Kilimanjaro or Tabletop mountain! There is Kili on the left and tabletop on the right!
Everyone here is fine! Let me know hows it all goes down there! ooooo khan dat?
MWAH!

ANY GOOD NEWS???

The dreaded question... 'Soooo Any Good News?' Now some of you are probably thinking errrm ok whats the problem has she finally lost the plot? And Im sure others who are married are thinking 'Ahaa I know what she is talking about'.
Before getting married the dreaded question was ...'Soooo are you considering anyone or getting married???' Im sure we have all been through that and if not then all I can say is your very lucky!
Anyways I recently got married 3 months ago and by the Grace and Mercy of God am very happy! I wrongly thought 'Yesssss now no more awkward questions' WRONG!!!!!!!
It seems that the new dreaded question post marriage is now 'Sooooo Any Good News?' This of course is quite commonly accompanied by a meaningful stare at your tummy and occasionally with a quick prod at the tummy to see if your concealing anything!

Family asking is cool they are looking forward to a new nephew/niece/granchild/cousin etc but I dont know its still slightly embarassing!
When close friends ask its also not too bad but personally Id prefer not to be asked and rather for people to wait to be told. The worst thing is though when people you dont really know come and ask... I work in a bookshop and now it seems that since getting married its licenced people friends, customers some who I know well some who I hardly know to openly come up to me and pose the dreaded question either that or im just getting fat lol so people cant help but wonder!
I could be wrong but Im sure thats its quite well known that when people are actually expecting a little bundle of joy they dont actually like to broadcast it for a good few months I think at least 2-3 months and when they are good and ready to let people know they will themselves offer the good news!
Prematurly asking puts them in a difficult situation as if they are expecting and they dont want to tell you yet they cant exactly lie and say no! But at the same time they dont want to tell you either so people plssssssssssssss have more consideration for your friends and random people you dont really know and dont ask rather wait to be told!
Now some of you are thinking 'okkkk shes lost the plot and is letting off steam' ... to that I say...'Phewww Yes I think I am letting of steam lol' and the final trigger for this was the other day in the bookshop when a customer who I hardly know at all bounced in and leant over the counter peering hard at my stomach with hand reached out and finger ready for a good old poke said ...'SOOOOOO any good news?' Now what I would have liked to have said was 'Errrrm nope not yet BUT if there was and I actually wanted you to know about it I think you would have known about it dont you think?' But that would be rude so instead I politely said 'no'.
I know people just want the best for you and are excited for you but pleaseeeee just be patient and wait to be told rather than ask!
Now for those of you who actually know me incase your wondering and want to ask but are now too scared to ask the answer truthfully and honestly is... 'No im not but please keep me in your prayers and if and when I am ill let you know myself when im good and ready but at this moment in time honestly nope there is no good news'!
Phew!!!! Im done! Any comments welcome!