While I love to sew and craft KATHIR!!! (A lot), there are also other things in my life either just as important or even more so important.
I just began a Quran memorization course at an all women school in Ajman Masha Allaah. I am taking the Saturday course which means I will be loaded down during the week with studying. This will of course cut in on my lovely sewing and crafting time. Islamic studies especially Quran, is paramount to even my family and home, My family and home are of course important, but are next in line, and the former balances the latter. Does that mean no stitching, hooking, latching at all? Of course not, it just means that there will be no crafting or blogging if I haven't memorized my daily quota of Quranic verses. This is the type of discipline I always have to turn to in order to help me keep things in order of priorities. For example, I will not even think about having a drink of any fruit juices or teas if I haven't had at least 5 huge glasses of water that day. I find this works for me most times; However, there are times when I rebel against myself lol.
These classes are very important to me because, 1. I want to please my Lord (Allaah), and learning His commandments and His prohibitions and committing them to memory will make anyone a better worshiper, so this is what I'm striving for Insha Allaah (Allaah-Willing). 2. I've been wanting to do this for years and now I finally have been blessed with the opportunity and all while living in an Islamic country (I'd be a fool not to take advantage of this blessing) 3. I do not waste my husband's money, that brother of mine in faith works hard and he's very supportive, so I cannot let him or my family down.
This is my tajweed work/text book
The school is awesome though guys, it's beautiful inside and out, not a man in sight and the women are all dolled up in their finest and serious about their studies, and the teachers are very professional. I am the only American there, so I must represent and do my best. Everyone speaks arabic at this school, my teacher speaks only a little english but she can keep a conversation and explain as I need it, so that helps. But last Saturday, she looked at me and said, "Samina, your arabic is good enough to understand and it will strengthen if you use it more. I will only explain to you in english if necessarily needed. You will be fine and even better next marking quarter and soon you will be fluent, okay? (with a sudden smile)" I said okay as I peered across the hall at a class for girls, They couldn't have been no more than 7 years old or so, I thought, "I wonder if they'd let me take their class?" I could feel myself getting nervous. My teacher can't be no more than 20 or 22 years old, here I am almost 40. So needless to say, ya know I came home talking a-mile-a-minute to my husband about the challenges I'm facing (the only english speaker, having to use the arabic language, the having to memorize 15 ayaat (verses) by next week, etc).
My husband is so patient lol, he listened to my wining for 2 days, then this morning he came into the kitchen and gave me the piercing eye pep talk, and it was quick, to the point and helped soooo much. He said,
"It is harder for us because it's not our language (arabic) and, just like in the states when other nationalities come there not knowing the english language, same difference, but they don't complain, they work hard and excell even over us at times in our own language, so now you are having this same experience. This is what you've always wanted please be happy, many do not have the opportunity, so go for it and show them what you're working with, you can do this girl, brush it off. Make it paramount to everything else, to blogging and crafting too, just make sure I eat a decent meal when I come home from work lol."
I swear I so needed that pep talk, plus he is helping me after work, and I've been pretty good today, I have 4 ayaat (verses) down already and I will memorize 3 more each day Insha Allaah. Please pray that I get all 15 verses by Saturday, PLEASE guys!
With all that being said lol...I will post as I can. Don't worry, I cannot stay away from my sewing and crafting, and hope to be able to manage my posts ahead so I will have free time to devote to my studies and have a balance Insha Allaah. I may not answer my mail as regularly for those of you who email me often. Don't stop emailing me (I love that), just don't expect my usual quick responses for awhile ok?
So, thanks so much in advance for your patience and please your support and encouragement is so important to me.
My class is currently on Suratul (chapter) Muhammad. You can listen to it below. It's so Beautiful...Enjoy and may it guide you, ameen (e.g. amen).
Love you all for the Sake of Allaah.
Until next time, this is an episode in my sewing journey in the Emirates.
Please leave a comment if you like, and scroll down, there's more to see!
Thanks for viewing and you're welcomed to join the family here and follow the blog.
Enjoy your sewing journey.
2 comments:
As salaamu alaikum sister dear, Alhamdulliaah!!!!!! ( with a huge smile).Na'am Do your thing ukhti, Just allow Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) be your strength and guide and insha Allaah ta 'aala you will be juuust fine. As I've shared with you , you are such a inspiration. As I thought to myself Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta aala) provides us with these tools if you will , to strengthen ourselves , our worship, etc. So why not use these opportunities, which in turn has prompted me to take arabic classes,(once again, LOL) masha Allaah. Soooo my dear sister, keep up the great work , you are such a inspiration. ( smiles)
Wa Alaykumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Alhamdulillah, jazak Allahu khayrun ukhti for such an informative post, may Allah, subhaanahu wa ta'ala, make your studies of benefit for you in this life and in the life to come, and may He make it easy for you and for all of us, and allow us to reach our goals to please Him, ameen. Wasalaam,
Post a Comment