The Holy Prophet [s] said: “When a woman conceives with child she will be as a warrior who fasts during the day and keeps vigil at nights praying, and strives with his soul and wealth on the way of Allah. Then, when she delivers, there will be for her such a great reward with Allah that she does not know how magnificent it is. Thereafter, when she suckles (the child), she will have as much reward as freeing a child from Ismail’s descendants for every suck. And, when she brings suckling the child to an end, an angel beside her tells her to begin the action again for she has surely been forgiven.”

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 104, p. 106

See this book: A Bundle of Flowers

This ahadith is so beautiful, it makes me proud to have nursed my daughter and proud to have brought it to an end. May Allah guide us all, And accept the actions that we do in His Name! Ameen

Bismillah

Allahu’akbar!! this is the first time ever that I have designed any website. This is my husband’s expertise but I am learning. I hope you all like it, Tavis helped me put it on the web, he is such a wonderful husband Masha’Allah.

Tell me what you think

Masalaama!

Bismillah

It is now 11:37am and I haven’t nursed Zahra all day again. But last night I had a big problem!!!!!!!! engorgement!! I could barley sleep and I was so much pain I couldn’t think straight, I didn’t know what to do so I tried to just bare it but it became crazy. My Zahra awoke at like 2am and so did Tavis, I told him my problem and he looked it up. He told me that it is said that you shouldn’t stop nursing cold turkey and to do it slowly to reduce the milk you have. Well, when she woke up I went up to try and nurse her and she wasn’t interested, she took a little and let go and went to sleep. I was surprized!

I decided to just pump a little and wean her the way that I am already doing. Then Tavis found out on the net that cabbage leaves do the trick. Here is what you do for those who are suffering the same fate.

Buy a head of cabbage and wash a couple leaves. You want to crimple the leaves a little to crack the veins in them. Apply the leaves all over the breast while a sturdy braw is on to keep the leaves in place. After about two hours replace the wilted leaves…

This is said to work by many refreances. Here are some links that I went to:

parenting.ivillage
parents.berkeley

This procedure is said to reduce engorgement and also reduce the milk you are producing to none. So Insha’Allah this will work. Good luck to you all!

Bismillah

Just sitting here thinking, should be sleeping I know. Any moment now a baby may begin to cry, but I don’t really feel like closing my eyes and drifting. Though I am sleepy, I just do not choose to sleep.

Muslim… What does it mean, why is there such a word? What is the reason that Muslim is needed and that Muslim is so important? Who is Muslim? What is Muslim? Something that I don’t understand is, why do some Muslims feel as though Allah’s Laws do not apply to them? Is it the title of Islam that they ware because of the core belief? The belief of One God, the belief that our beloved prophet Muhammad is his last Messanger. Is that enough to believe, is that enough to hold on to inthis world and still expect and hope and pray to reach the splendor of Allah’s rewards and Glory? Or is this a thought that leaps upon their minds?

I can remember a time when I walked among, when I was one of them. Holding on to a tittle because it befitted me. I loved the words so dearly, I loved the idea so greatly and the manner inwhich it was formed and survived was intreging to me.. but the application of it,,, this was something others did. This was something I would do eventually but not just yet.

I was young, 16 and younger. Not until I was 17 or so and asked for Allah’s help did I see the mistakes that I kept in my heart as mistakes. Not the sins on my soul, not the actions of my limbs and intentions in my heart persay. But the idea that I can claim Islam as my religion, and declare that Allah is One and that Muhammad is His messenger, and be done with the duties of my deen. What ever was I thinking? Listen to the Word of Allah and ask Him for guidance, for without His guidance we are of a surety lost and misguided!!!

Bismillah

After Jummah this Friday, I found out that a friend of mine’s daughter has just been weaned from nursing. Her daughter is about three weeks older than mine, and I decided it’s about time for Zahra to do the same. I have been wanting to do this and been trying but just never could keep it together and get serious about it. Well, Today (Sunday) I decided to , with Allah’s Mercy and Will) attempt to ween her from now on. Well, so far it has worked!! Masha’Allah she has not nursed today and it is now 11:40pm. The funny thing is after the time for her after noon nap came, and she had a fit about nursing but I stayed strong and didn’t give in. And my husband gave her a pasifiyer that she doesn’t use and has never used other than to chew on while teething, and she chewed on it drank some milk from one of her sippy cups and dosed off to sleep while I rocked her in the rocking chair… She hasn’t even tried to nurse again.

I thought that maybe when it was time for her to go to sleep for the night it would be a horrible task trying to get her to drift off without nursing. But I set up a little schedule in my head and after we all ate dinner and I cleaned up the mess at about 8 O’clock, Tavis (my husband) started Zahra’s bath water. She played in the tub for a while and I washed her little self up, after she told me she wanted to get out I took her out and lotioned her up and put on her night clothes. I read her a little story and lead her down to sleep. Of course she didn’t go to sleep but rose and walked over to the chair in her room on which I was sitting. I gave her her sippy cup but she wasn’t interested. I put her pasifyer in her hand and she just held it.. Then I tried rocking her from side to side in my arms but she wasn’t feeling it. So I carried her down stairs to the living room where I rocked her to sleep earlier in the rocking chair and tried to do it again. She liked it a little for a little while but she had enough too soon, and seemed as if she couldn’t get comfortable. I stood up with her and begain rocking her again in my arms and she fell asleep fairly quick. This sounds like it took a long time, but it actually wasn’t. I went up and laiyed her down and she was fast asleep.

I was amazed though that she didn’t try to nurse, didn’t ask for it, didn’t reach for it or anything.. I am happy and proud of her.. Insha’Allah it continues this way.

Bismillah

I know what you’re thinking “Where have you been all weekend” right? Well, let me tell you.

My sister got married this Saturday and so for the last few weeks my mother and I have been planning her wedding and all sorts of things. I had at my house a henna wedding shower for her on Friday night which was wonderful Mahsha’Allah. It was only woman allowed so my darling husband had to leave… He went to his sister’s house and spent the night. Oh how I missed him… the love of my life. (smile)

His sister was here at my house for the shower and we all had a good time. I was the henna artist, Allah allowed me to do a beautiful job considering that I have never done henna on a nother person besides myself before. It was wonderful, and I was up with my sister until 4 am applying an elaborate design on both of her feet and both of her hands. Then after going to sleep for all of.. let’s say 3 hours or so I got up with my daughter who woke and was not too happy about things. When my sister woke, she watched Zahra for me to sleep for a little longer. I sleep for about another hour or so. Then I applied a little more henna on her and braided her hair…

At about 2 in the afternoon Saturday, we all went to the Mosque for the beautiful wedding. It was very nice and I am happy for my sister and proud of her… Mahsha’Allah may they both love each other for the sake of Allah.

This is from the wonderful and beautiful sermons and sayings of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib From the book Nahj al-Balaghah. Enjoy !!

The Creation of the Universe

He initiated creation most initially and commenced it originally, without undergoing reflection, without making use of any experiment, without innovating any movement, and without experiencing any aspiration of mind. He allotted all things their times, put together their variations gave them their properties, and determined their features knowing them before creating them, realising fully their limits and confines and appreciating their propensities and intricacies.
When Almighty created the openings of atmosphere, expanse of firmament and strata of winds, He flowed into it water whose waves were stormy and whose surges leapt one over the other. He loaded it on dashing wind and breaking typhoons, ordered them to shed it back (as rain), gave the wind control over the vigour of the rain, and acquainted it with its limitations. The wind blew under it while water flowed furiously over it.
Then Almighty created forth wind and made its movement sterile, perpetuated its position, intensified its motion and spread it far and wide. Then He ordered the wind to raise up deep waters and to intensify the waves of the oceans. So the wind churned it like the churning of curd and pushed it fiercely into the firmament throwing its front position on the rear and the stationary on the flowing till its level was raised and the surface was full of foam. Then Almighty raised the foam on to the open wind and vast firmament and made therefrom the seven skies and made the lower one as a stationary surge and the upper one as protective ceiling and a high edifice without any pole to support it or nail to hold it together. Then He decorated them with stars and the light of meteors and hung in it the shining sun and effulgent moon under the revolving sky, moving ceiling and rotating firmament.

Well the day is going by minute by minute, I am just waiting for something interesting to happen =) Been trying out different designs for my site, Insha’Allah it will turn out well. Zahra’s been a little fussy today. She woke up from her nap with a little tude. It happens sometimes I know but this time it was very strange. I deduced that she needed some tylonel for her teeth and gums. When I gave it to her she seemed better but still very irritated.
I am feeling a little… sad maybe, I just want to eat some good food and watch a good movie. I know sounds strange but this combanation makes me feel better all the time. Unless it is something really wrong with me you know like depressed.

But, I’m ok, just need a little pick me up Zahra was driving me crazy, all you mothers out there know how I feel I’m sure. LOL

I took this picture the morning that we were going to my mother’s wedding.. it’s so cute

Bismillah

It’s not that early really, not for me because Zahra likes to wake up early and drag me up with her after she is board with playing by herself lol. It’s actually pretty late for the norm, (9:35am) I am usually up at 7:45am. This is actually pretty good too considering that before Zahra could walk up and down the stairs and get around the house the way she wants to, she’d wake me up as soon as she got up. Subhanna’Allah, and that’s at around 6:30am or so. So I’m gratefull for 7:45 ya know.

Anyway, My husband surprised me yesterday, he is off for the next 15 days!!!!!!!!! YAY! So we are chillen you know. So that is why I was able to sleep a little longer since Zahra had daddy to drag around. They both are early birds though really. I could never understand why even on the weekend the both of them are up at like 7:30am playing and laughing and missing with me to get up. I’m like noooooooooooo leave me alone, I’m sleeping!!! lol.

I don’t know if you guys noticed by my aim is up if you want to reach me, and chat a little… halla back!