Even an empty plastic bottle can be charity: a journal entry by MWA's Aishah Schwartz

I'm a collector of few things having learned the hard way over the years that becoming too attached to things of this world brings more heartache than anything else. But one of the things I collect is emptied plastic bottles.

You see, back home in the United States we have a rather sophisticated and quite successful recycling system that is supported by local governments across the nation and widely used. However, here in Egypt the recycling system is somewhat different.

MWA's Lonna Amira Bowen shares her collection of Ramadan journals

Day 1 Ramadan: Subhan Allah loved that crazy thunderstorm, took the temp down nearly 20 degrees…little thunder, power driving wind that literally moves you and the beautiful copious amounts of rain to soak you to your bones…thank you God! Later, I was out and saw all the damage from the possible jericho and praying for the family who lost their young son that was killed when a tree fell on him as he made his way home out of the sudden storm.

Day 2 of Ramadan: I walked out of the masjid to go home early (as I had to work early the next day). My husband was standing by my car with a teen boy from Burma. As I approached, I could see two beautiful children with smiles beaming at me from inside my car. They were not my children, but two Burmese refugee children. My husband told me to drop them off at their home. We drove off and they pointed at different things and tried out the English that they have learned since arriving only a few months ago. I listened to their giggles and Hindi in between their outbursts of English words to describe what they saw in the night life of the city. The smiles and joy on these kids faces although they are in a foreign land, trying to learn a new language, having survived a genocide in their homeland made me grateful and blissful. (Read More)

ABOUT MWA'S LONNA AMIRA BOWEN
Lonna describes herself as a light that encompasses being a Muslimah, wife and mama of five. Yet, light has many more dimensions than a prism. She was born and raised in Kentucky to a clan of hillbillies that she loves and adores. Lonna grew up listening, singing and dancing to Bluegrass music and old timey hits. Her papaw used to pay Lonna's twin sister a quarter each for every tune they could "sing" that sounded more like yellin'. Her grandfather and dad made sure Lonna knew how to shoot guns, swim in creeks and rivers, rappel off natural bridges and ride horses. All of these lessons taught Lonna more than just those actions, but more importantly how to be strong and use her voice. Over the years of living for everyone else and forgetting herself, Lonna lost her essence and so blogging became a way of letting herself resurface by belting out her "song" on the keyboard.
 

How reflective writing gave my Ramadan renewed meaning by MWA's Nouran Emad

Two Fridays before the start of Ramadan 2013, at Jummah prayer, the Imam spoke about how the true purpose of Ramadan had become forgotten. He spoke of how people fast every year because it had become merely a "tradition", rather than because there was a religious purpose intertwined with wisdom behind it.

I went home that day thinking about what the Imam had said and found myself asking a series of questions. Have all my past Ramadan's been the exact same? No, of course not, there is not one Ramadan the same as the one before or the one to come. Each Ramadan has this one special unique vibe to it that makes it memorable, but then what did the Imam mean by "don't let this Ramadan be another forgotten purpose", and how can I not let this happen?

Quran - the book of timeless guidance: a poem by MWA's Muslimah Poetess

Quran - the book of timeless guidance.

A book of Divine Guidance, a Companion for the slave,
A friend for a lifetime; the only light in your grave,

The ‘Kalaam’ that’s more beautiful than any literature, prose or poetries,
The ‘Kitaab’ that’s filled with hope, mercy and inspiring stories,

The communicating medium with Ar – Rahmaan; the ultimate path to success,
The contemplation of His ‘Aayat’ taking you away from anxiety, sorrow and distress,

MWA asks: what is it about Ramadan and fasting that you particularly enjoy?

[If viewing from the "Home" page, be sure to click on the "Read More" link after the introductory text to read...the rest of the story!]

I'll kick-start the post, and as some of you may already know, I oftentimes lean toward a touch of humor, so this is something silly that popped into my head one evening in Ramadan as I started to peel the toppings off a pizza that just arrived for suhoor. One of the reasons I might particularly enjoy the fasting aspect of Ramadan is that: I have food issues to start with! lol

Food. It bothers me to spend money buying it. It bothers me to spend time putting it away. It bothers me spending time to prepare it. It REALLY bothers me having to clean up after preparing it! And it UBER bothers me that all of that money, time and effort are consumed within 5-10 minutes from the start of eating it! AND THEN!!! And then we flush it down the toilet!!!! WTH?!?!

In the first week I was trying to make iftar and suhoor a little more photo-op-ish (lol) (for the MWA Ramadan blog's photo section), but as Ramadan rolled along this month, iftar's began to slim down to a mug of tomato or lentil soup, a handful of jelly beans (what! no dates?!), a cup of coffee and a tall glass of water (or two) before jumping out the door to pray Isahah and taraweeh. For suhoor, now maybe I'll eat a little more since I went light on the iftar, but light is the pattern that seems to be working best for me going into the second half of Ramadan.

On the serious side, subhan'Allah...it seems I have enjoyed listening Quran more than ever, and I have particularly enjoyed visiting different masjids for taraweeh prayers.

Last, but not least, helping maintain the MWA Ramadan blog has really helped keep me focused on the essence of this Holy Month. Al-hamdulillah. And I'm so grateful for the contributions of MWA's members. Salute!

Tips for the Last 10 days of Ramadan by MWA's Muslimah Poetess

 

Tips for the Last 10 days of Ramadan by MWA's Nihad Gazal

• Be ever ready to make dua'as during the prescribed times and If you are normally busy with chores till the last moment then cut short the du'a list a bit, mark it in your head the Super important ones.
• Complete your 5 - 6 hours of sleep anyhow and take naps if required so that you are active during the mornings and the nights.

On Kinship and Quran: a journal entry by MWA's Aishah Schwartz

16th Century Quran.

I think it was like two years ago that I passed through a familiar local souvenir shop whose management has been somewhat of a heart-adopted family to me during my time here in Egypt. As with many friends these days (especially if they're not online in one way or another), we don't see or hear from each other often, but that doesn't diminish the sense of Muslim kinship we share when I make one of my impromptu visits to their shop.

Fasting Ramadan and Keeping the Momentum Going by MWA's Isahah Janette Grant

Thirty days of fasting from sun-up to sun-set takes discipline, dedication, faithfulness, and most importantly the grace of God. The initial excitement at the onset of Ramadan and the eagerness to begin a month of conscious dedication to Allah for the purification of the body, mind and soul can begin to wane, especially for new Muslims and young people fasting for the first time, once the half-way mark is reached.

Around day 15 or 16 of Ramadan there can be more of a difficulty in getting up for suhoor to eat before the fast begins in the early morning hours; it can become harder to keep one’s patience as hunger pangs develop and escalate during the middle of the day and it can be harder concentrating on salaat and the proper manners that the believers should exhibit when fasting.

Remembering my father on Tariq's second birthday: a journal entry by MWA's Zabrina Abu Bakar

Today, 17th Ramadan 1434 is Tariq's birthday. He turns 2 years old today, alhamdulillah.

I brought Tariq to visit his Grandpa today morning.

I remembered how happy my dad was when Tariq was born. Especially when so many said Tariq has many of his features.

Last year my dad organized Tariq's birthday's celebration by berbuka puasa (breaking fast) at an orphanage home. We all went there to treat the orphans. It was a very beautiful and memorable day.

God has given my dad 2 years with Tariq but God Willing, I will keep telling Tariq stories about his grandpa so that he'd remember my dad, his grandpa.. as if he is still alive...
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RELATED: 
My dad on how to be a transporter of goodness: a journal entry by MWA's Zabrina Abu Bakar
A lesson from my dad on charity: a journal entry by MWA's Zabrina Abu Bakar
Love and mercy in Ramadan and always, insha'Allah: a journal entry by MWA's Zabrina Abu Bakar

Residents in Hurghada, Egypt gather for outdoor iftar - photo essay by MWA's Aishah Schwartz

This is a photo essay so click on the "Read More" link at the lower left corner of the first image.

Click on any image to view larger size.

 

Her mom insisted on the photo; maybe because our outfits were color coordinated.