Iqamah???

I received some encouraging news yesterday.
Mr.Fouad,our director at work had a meeting with some official in some department and I can finally come back to work with a work permit and residency but its a little bit more technical than that obviously.So my boss and I have to agree to the following terms,some of which I have been briefed on.Some tax issues,insurance and a security deposit.The latter is what my boss would have to incur,which lets just say isn't a small amount.I got word that it seems ok for now,but still waiting for the confirmation.Lets pray it comes through today so that I wont have to go through the agony of waiting the entire weekend.
Oh the waiting.

Tandoori night

I have it in the oven,tandoori chicken,thats right,we're having indian tonight..God,it seemed like it took forever to clean that bird.if it wasn't for the icy water and weather,it might've been fun but my fingers are frozen now so no,it wasn't fun cleaning it.but the smell of it roasting away in the oven makes it all worth it,everytime!Michael and the family are gone for a Naqshabandi gathering,well,its actually girls only,so he's just waiting for them,the gentleman.The house gets really quiet when Michael isn't around,he's always singing and praying,brings the house to life.Dare I say it again but I couldn't have been placed into better hands.Placed i say because God put me here and thanks should be given for that.Alhumdulillah

La ilaha illa Anta, Innee kunthu min-azzaalimeen

Wow,one whole day.It feels like it has been ages since i lasted posted anything.Well,yesterday was just like any other day,almost like any other because everyday isn't really the same,the honest truth is that I just didn't feel up to it.I have been fighting myself,fighting myself to stay positive,to keep my chin up,but it isn't easy sometimes.It just feels like nothing is working in my favour.But alhumdulillah there is alot going on.I think its just the one thing that I want so desperately that isn't happening,but then I have to have patience,and sometimes that word feels like such an enemy.But i know that I should and can never give up for I'm not alone in this.

Yunus (Jonah) was the son of Mitta according to a Tradition quoted in Sahih Bukhari but the Torah states that his father's name was Amittai.
When the prophethood was conferred upon him, he was commanded to go Nineveh for preaching the true faith of God.  Nineveh was situated on the right bank of the river Tigris.  It was the capital city of Assyria.  Its people were arrogant and conceited.  They led sinful lives.  The Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) tried his best to reform them but they turned a deaf ear to his advice and warnings.  Soon he began to feel disgusted.  Consequently human frailty overpowered him.  He flew into a rage and invoked Allah's wrath on the people of Nineveh.  He became impatient and departed without waiting for further command from Allah.  He imagined perhaps God had no power over him.  The Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) proceeded towards the sea and took a boat.  Unfortunately the boat was caught in a storm.   The sailors held him responsible for bringing misfortune to the boat.  They decided to throw Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) into the water but the passengers did not agree to their decision.  Then lots were drawn and the name of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) came out.  The Prophet Yunus was thrown into the sea for the safety of the  boat.  When Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) fell into the water, a great fish with capacious belly drew him in.  He was in extreme distress.   He realised that he had to suffer for committing dereliction towards his duty as a prophet.  Instead of running away he must have relied upon the power of Allah even in the most discouraged circumstances.

This story teaches us above all that we should rely solely on our Lord for He is the only one who can help us.Other people like Mr.F and them are trying but it is only through Allah's will, that one can succeed.

So anyways,last night after esha,Michael brought Taiyo home for dinner,we were talking about life here in Jordan and what's been going on in the Middle East.We also spoke about Berlitz and how he's finding it.It was interesting.Michael's wife prepared steak,eggs and chips.We felt like we were in a restaurant,they way it was presented.SubhanAllah,she goes out of her way every day.I really don't know how to thank them for everything they're doing for me during this unstable time of mine.

We left to get something for Michael's wife to eat,from a mall not far from their place.When we got back,the 3 of us, ie. Michael's wife, Michael and I sat in the kitchen and spoke about Islam and Da'wah till like 2 in the morning.This is our daily discussion.

You know it is the only thing I really want to do in my life.I truly feel its my purpose.
(Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty.)

Duwar-madina to Mjamma3-jdeed

i had been meaning to go to Zarka for a few days now,for no reason but just to visit. i stayed there a few years ago.its situated about 30 minutes outside of Amman,its one of Jordan's biggest cities.i thought if i went there i'd possibly bump into some old faces,get a chance to catch up and also practice some arabic,the Zarka dialect.
so this morning,Michael's wife was saying how mike's dad liked a certain picture they had sent him,so i was telling them that they should also make a blog for Noor and invite me to it so that i can see her progress too.but then i learned that their photoshop wasn't working and they wanted to use it to make the blog look extra cool.and they didn't know where to purchase it from,so this was the perfect excuse for me to go to Zarka because i know a few shops there that sell software programs.
so after asr,at around 4 we had lunch,pasta alfredo,my sister had given me some easy to prepare ones,and i asked mike's wife if she could make it for us,so today she prepared that.it was delicious,i love alfredo,its so creamy.
i got ready after lunch and left for zarka.i walked for a bit then caught a taxi to Duwar Madina.from there i jumped onto a service taxi,which is your normal yellow cab,but you share it with 3 other guys,each person pays a Dinar.its better than the microbus because its faster and cleaner.
the taxi stopped at Mjamma3 Jdeed,and from there i took a walk to the souq.
the souq there is big and full of life,but crowded and smelly is something that you must expect and deal with,its all good.
i found the software after a while and then i left to come back here because i was hungry and desperate for the toilet.i walked back to the Mjumma3 and searched for a taxi but none of them were service taxis so i just got onto a microbus,which took forever to leave because they have to fill all the seats before they leave,so after 10 minutes we departed.35 minutes later i was back at Duwar Madina and made my way to the house,any other time i wouldn't have minded walking because its only about 1 or 2 kilometeres away but today i was so desperate that i had to get a taxi.but obviously i couldn't find one,so i ended up walking up all the way,i felt like i was going to explode.i ran into the bathroom and was crying from the relief i felt.
i then got into the room,read that long email,called you,was so good talking to you for more than 10 minutes,wAllah.
after that i went down and bought some z3tar,labneh,zeitoon,khubz and mawz.felt so traditional,i love it.
had that for dinner and mike's wife also prepared liver curry and rice.i munched that afterwards,i was nice and stuffed.
i chilled with noor for about 15 minutes then she got a bit sleepy so she was taken away.and i immediately got down to this..

samoosa morning

i woke up really late today hey,its becoming a habit,its the jetlag i tell you,its going to be a while for me to get rid of it.

but then i had a lovely surprise,michael mentioned one of my favourites was on the menu for breakfast.samoosas..ofcourse i hadit with tea,they were lovely,i love samoosas,its a subcontinent savoury,its a triangular stuffed pastry,usually mince,potatoes and cheese and sweetcorn but essentially you could fill it with anything you fancy :) ..

it actually always reminds me of Ramadan,because its a must at the time of iftar back home.everyone prepares them.my favourite is cheese and sweetcorn,my mum loves fish filling,God knows why,i cant stand it.

i'm thinking of my mum because she had some samoosas in New Zealand for me,but i asked her not to fry them,God knows why i said that because i so regret it now..

..

Dala'il al-Khayrat

Dala'il al-Khayrat  is a famous collection of prayers for Islamic prophet Muhammad, which was written by the Moroccan Sunni Sufi and Islamic Scholar Muhammad al-Jazuli (died 1465).

Moroccan hadith scholar ‘Abdullah al-Talidi wrote of the Dala’il al-Khayrat: “Millions of Muslims from East to West tried it and found its good, its blessing, and its benefit for centuries and over generations, and witnessed its unbelievable spiritual blessings and light.
The legend behind the origin of the Dala’il al-Khayrat are that Imam al-Jazuli once awoke late for his morning prayers and began to look in vain for pure water to perform ritual ablutions. In the midst of his search al-Jazuli encountered a young girl who was aware of al-Jazuli's famed religiosity and was bewildered on why al-Jazuli could not find pure water. The girl then spit into a well which miraculously overflowed with pure sweet water for al-Jazuli to perform ablutions.
Consequent to performing prayer, al-Jazuli inquired to the means by which the girl achieved such a high spiritual station. The girl replied it was simply by "Making constant prayer for God to bless the best of creation by the number of breaths and heartbeats." Al-Jazuli then resolved to write a work collecting litanies of prayers asking God to bless and show mercy and kindness to the Prophet Muhammad.

So today after the maghrib prayers,some of the brothers here at the centre gather together and recite the entire book,we sat from maghrib until esha and recited it and by Allah as i was reading it,i could feel all my problems and stresses be alleviated.subhanAllah it was a beautiful and calming feeling,i thought to myself why i wasn't doing this more regularly.

It was just yesterday i was thinking about my father and i wondering how he manages to always look so calm and collected through all the adversities that face him and now i know he accomplishes that,well it must be because he recites the Dala'il al-Khayrat daily,there wasn't a day that went by that my beloved father never recited it.How silly i am for not following these things that father who was in front of me all my life.
I love you Abba for the sake of Allah and His beloved prophet (peace be upon him.).
Mummy jaan,i love you too.