Ramadan Mubarak, Ramadan Kareem!

Salaam alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh everyone! Insh'Allah you're all doing well, are in the best of health and the highest of iman, and have been enjoying your Ramadan so far (Ramadan fasting started today for those of us in Morocco...for whatever reason the moon seems to consistently like to show up one day later than it does in Saudi and most of the rest of the world XD...I remember when I was still living in the states I used to call my husband to say Ramadan mubarak, and he would always say, "Ramadan doesn't start for us until tomorrow" lol) Anyways, as I've mentioned before, I'm really excited about this Ramadan because it's the first Ramadan that I'll be spending in Morocco, with my hubby and his family, alhamdolillah! What are you looking forward to this Ramadan?

Goals for Ramadan

Salaam alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh everyone, insh'Allah everything's well with y'all, and you're in the best of health and the highest of iman!

Do you like the picture? It's me and my SIL on top of the roof of our appartment building close to sunset. I'm not super tall (I'm just under 5'5")...it's just that my SIL is super short lol.

Anyways, it's that time of year again...my favorite time of year...that's right, RAMADAN is less than a month away, alhamdolillah! I had a great Ramadan last year, and I'm hoping that insh'Allah this year will be even better! I'm looking forward to it for so many reasons...it'll be my first Ramadan in Morocco...my first Ramadan with my hubby...my first Ramadan with my in-laws...but most of all, because I'm craving Ramadan. Yes, craving lol. The shaytan is locked away, and it's such a beautiful month that Allah(swt) has blessed us with. A month of inner reflection, repentance, and drawing closer to Allah(swt). I always used to get asked how I could possibly give up eating and drinking during the day for an entire month, and my answer was always very simple: I'm doing it for the sake of Allah(swt). My love for Allah(swt) is what gets me through those days where my empty stomach is violently churning, those days where my mouth is so parched that I feel like my mouth is full of sand. In my hunger and thirst, I remember Allah(swt), and all of the blessings He has bestowed upon me, without even being asked! This will be my fifth Ramadan, alhamdolillah, and, like last year, I've compiled a list of goals for myself for this upcoming month. However, unlike last year, I've tried to keep them a bit more realistic.

1. Pray all my prayers ON TIME: Astighfirallah, it's embarrassing to admit this, but I've been slacking in this area lately. That needs to change. This is something I've been working on before Ramadan begins, because the sooner it changes and I can develop good salat habits, the better.

2. Pray tarawih every night: Alhamdolillah last year this was a goal I was able to complete. I went to the Islamic center (a 15 minute drive from my parents' house) every night I was able to pray tarawih prayer last year, and I LOVED it. Now that hubby and I live a two minute walk from a mosque (literally, it's like 500 feet down the street), I feel like I have no excuse not to go.

3. Read the entire english translation of the Qur'an: This is easy enough to do insh'Allah. It's in my native language, after all. I also want to try reading the tafseer (explaination) along with the translation as well insh'Allah.

4. Follow along with audio recitation of the Qur'an in Arabic: Needless to say, last Ramadan I was NOT able to get through the whole Qur'an in Arabic (only up to Surah Taha I believe?)...and it felt more like a chore than something enjoyable because it was so difficult for me...and since then, my Arabic reading skills have not really improved...so this time around I think it will be more helpful if I follow along with an audio recitation. Insh'Allah it will make it easier and more enjoyable...and will help my reading skills.

5. Memorize at least two new surahs: It doesn't matter which ones they are...I just would like to make more of an effort in memorizing the Qur'an because I haven't been making much of an effort lately, astighfirallah.

6. Make lots of du'ah: Du'ah, or supplication, is something that is such a powerful tool, especially during Ramadan. In fact, one of the best times to make du'ah is right before breaking the fast. I sometimes made du'ah right before iftar last Ramadan, and was absolutely AMAZED by what Allah(swt) blessed me with. Never underestimate the power of du'ah.

7. Eat healthier: Who would have thought that Ramadan would be a prime time to start eating healthier? Well, guess what? It is! I have so many problems with food I won't even start mentioning them all to you. I will just say though that I will make my best effort to eat a nice healthy, balanced and nutritious iftar and suhoor this year (as opposed to last year's poptarts and icecream and salt and vinegar chips late at night after tarawih...yeah, I know, really disgusting, right? I have no idea how I used to be thinner when I ate so much crap, and then when I came here I gained 8kg in three months...I know, absolute mystery I tell you!)

What are your goals for this Ramadan?

So...My Life Isn't Terribly Exciting...

Salaam alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh everyone,

Insh'Allah you're all in the best of health and the highest of iman! ^_^

So, I haven't updated in almost a week and...*here come the excuses*

1. I've been kind of busy with work/going to the masjid/trying to get as much sleep as I possibly can

2. I'm just lazy and haven't really felt like writing anything

3. I always feel the need to write about really interesting things that I think people will actually want to bother to take the time out of their day to read...unfortunately for y'all I don't think my life is that interesting :P

So, since we've last met, a few things have happened:
1. I'm on day 3 of my "vacation"...ahemhem...I know this might sound really silly of me...but I always pray that it comes sooner in Ramadan rather than later, just so that I don't miss out on the last 10 days. So I'm happy it came when it did ^_^...LOL...now you're probably all feeling really awkward. On a side note...any other gals out there feel kinda self-conscious during Ramadan when you're on your "vacation" from fasting? I always feel weird being allowed to eat and drink...especially when I have to explain to people WHY I'm eating and drinking again for a week -_-'

2. Alhamdolillah on Wednesday August 18 it was my three year anniversary of me taking my shahadah! I plan to post a little bit more in depth about this later insh'Allah, in the interest of not making this post too long, but I will just say this. Alhamdolillah for EVERYTHING that I've been through over the past three years. I'm so blessed to have been guided to Islam, and I feel like over these past three years, I have grown and matured spiritually by leaps and bounds. I keep learning and growing more day by day, and I am very thankful for the simple fact that I AM A MUSLIM. ALHAMDOLILLAH!

3. I went to the Thursday halaqa at the masjid again, and alhamdolillah this time I felt sufficiently less awkward. I feel like this time I was able to bond a bit more with the sisters there, and I felt more comfortable. Last time I felt really awkward because I was pretty much one of the oldest people there (because they're "youth group" halaqas) and all the other sisters there were high school age...and me being 20, I just felt kinda old and out of place. LOL. But alhamdolillah this time I just kind of let go of feeling like I didn't really belong there (after all the brother who runs it is in GRAD SCHOOL...so I wasn't the oldest one there, and I felt really silly for feeling "too old"...because, after all, you're never too old to LEARN, and that's what I'm there to do after all). This time it was nice, because I kind of felt like I fit more into the "big sister" role, and the other sisters were more comfortable talking to me this time around, which was nice...last time much of the conversation we had was made up of awkward silence...heheh.

Tonight insh'Allah I'll be going to another community iftar, so I'm excited for that!! Even though I'm not fasting, I'm still looking forward to the yummy food, and spending time with other Muslims ^_^

I hope all of your fasting is going well, insh'Allah! Until next time, salaam alaikum!