Ramadan During Lockdown

This year, since everyone is at home during the pandemic, as before this lockdown happened, we muslims were keeping ourselves busy by attending gatherings, arranging gatherings, attending lectures, etc. However, the questions we ask ourselves is how have we spent our time? Did we learn anything useful? These questions will be answered in this post, as I am going to discuss how I spent my time, things that I have missed during Ramadan, things I did not miss, and things I have discovered about myself.

I spend my Ramadan, reflecting on myself, doing religious acts, such as reading Quran and praying salatul Layl, and doing a3mal in Layalatul Qadir. I have listened to   lectures online, on Usama Attar's tafsir on Suratul Mulk, about how to control ourselves, how we are created by Allah, freewill, etc. What I have learned so far, is that our actions have consequences. We have a choice on whether to obey Allah or disobey Allah. If we make good choices, we will go to Janah inshallah, if we make bad choices, such as hanging out with people who tempt you to do haram actions, such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, stealing, bullying,  disrespecting your parents, not wearing your hijab in the right way, behaving inappropriately with non-mahrams, etc, will result in going to jahanam, adubillah. Therefore, we need to think carefully of our actions and make good choices, by choosing your friends wisely, praying daily, respecting your parents, wearing your hijab in the right way, and behaving appropriately with non-mahrams.
I also spent my time with my family by watching a Kuwaiti series called 'Janat Hali', which I will talk in more detail in my next blog post inshallah. I also spent by reading Dua Iftitah.

The things that I missed during Ramadan is seeing my sister Khamael, and her daughter Zahra over Iftar, and attending lectures in centres. I do not miss gatherings,  as I mentioned in my previous post, large gatherings can be stressful. I prefer staying at home during Ramadan, and performing religious acts, and spending time with my family.

The things that I have discovered about myself, is that when I was listening to Usama Attar's lectures, during salah, sometimes my mind tends to wander, so I discovered that before salah, we can do istighfar, to keep ourselves focused.

Next blog post: Janat Hali Series Review

Home Alone: my story

Most of you have seen a Home Alone movie where a boy named Kevin Mcallister gets accidentally left behind at home when his family goes to Paris. He defends his home from two burglars who attempt to break into his home. Now I'm going to tell you my story if I was in this boy's position. The  story would take place in London, instead of Chicago. 

Summary: I get left home alone because my dad is away on business, my mum and my sisters are out of town to see my uncle and his family. I'm left at home alone because I have homework to do and have to deal with two burglars who attempt to break into my house. 

 

Now my story begins. I'm sitting in my room which  I share with my eldest sister Khamael. She enters. 

"What are you doing?''she asked.

Nothing,''I replied, closing my laptop.

''Don't you have homework to catch up on?''

''Well yeah, I do but it is not due till Monday, so I'm taking a break now.''

''Oh okay. By the way, Mama,Ghadeer and I are going to Surrey to visit Uncle Hasan and his family, want to come?''

''Sorry can't, I've got lots of homework to do.''

''It's okay, I understand. I'm glad that you are using your time efficiently, Huda. But are you sure you will be fine by yourself?''

"Don't worry, I'll be fine, I know what to do.'' 

Khamael smiled and hugged me and went to tell Mama what I told her. 

''I'm worried about Huda. It's not that I don't trust her,'' I heared Mama say, ''it's just that we might live in a not so safe neighbourhood in Notting Hills. I'm worried something bad might happen to Huda.''

Don't worry Mama,'' Ghadeer said,''Huda will be fine, she's very brave.'' 

I smiled at what Ghadeer said. Mama, Khamael and Ghadeer got ready to leave. Mama gave me safety rules such as not answering the phone and door to strangers and calling them if I needed anything or if anything happens. 

I waved them goodbye and went to my room and did my homework.

The next hour after I finished my Maths homework I decided to go make myself some chocolate milkshake when suddenly I heard a noise. 

What was that?I wondered. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to go investigate a bit so I decided to peak through the curtains. I gasped. I saw two men with crowbars. One was short and bald and the other was tall and blond. They were going to break into our house. 

''Which way do we go?''asked the blond guy.

''Through the back door.''

I ran quietly to my room, hid in my closet and put a Hijab on my head in case those guys make it into to my room. 

''I've heard that this family is Muslim. Most muslims are loaded.'' the short guy said. 

''Really, Harry, they're muslim. I've never met a muslim in my life.''

''Look, Mark, who cares let's just rob this house and get out of here.''

Oh no, they know about our religion. I thought about what I heard of them say. I recognise one of them, the short guy named Harry. He was the the police officer who checked into our house last night, he was talking to Mama about our security system. I shouldn've known this was going to happen. I took out my cell phone and and called 999. I told the operator everything about what happened. How the burglars looked like, where I am now, our address and the burglar's names. I kept on line, so if Harry and Mark make it into my room, find me and threaten me, the police will hear what is going on. 

''There is a muslim girl named Huda in this room. They've left her home alone because she has homework to do.'' Harry said.Oh no, they know that I am home alone. I'm screwed now. 

An idea struck me. I took out a pocket knife from the closet. 

The door burst open.

''Aha, there she is, she is wearing a head scarf.''

I stabbed them with the knife . Then the police arrived and arrested the criminals. 

Mama called, Khamael, Ghadeer, and even Uncle Hasan and his family called. They've heard about what I have done. The police told them everything. They told me how brave I was and that they were proud of me. Enough said. 

I

Hijab Instructions for girls who are mutakaleefin

Hijab is what you call a head scarf. Hijab is not just covering your hair but also your whole part of your body         

except your hands and face. Here are instructions for girls who just started wearing Hijab. 

1. Girls should wear something under the Hijab so their hair doesn't show. 
2. Girls shouldn't swim with boys. 
3. Girls should wear socks with shoes. 
4. Girls should wear an Abaya when going to the mosque. They shouldn't wear  somnething that is too casual. 
5. Girls should wear long sleeved shirts. If they want to wear a short sleeved dress or top they should wear a long sleeved shirt under it. They are also supposed to wear long trousers or leggings so their feet doesn't show. 
6. Girls shouldn't kiss or hug men. They can put their hands on their chests when they greet men. 
7. When going to occasions, girls should wear Abaya under their  dress, put their their socks on and they can take them off at the wedding or any several parties. 
8. Girls should wear clothes for praying if they are not going to wear their Hijab. 
9. Girls shouldn't wear makeup. If they want to put perfume on they should at least put one or two sprays. 
10. Girls shouldn't go to parties that has boys, loud music, alcohol and other things that are not allowed in Islam. 

Islam

Islam is our religion. People who believe in Islam are called muslims. We muslims do not worship any god other than Allah(s.w.t). We pray, fast in Ramadan, do Hajj, umra, read quran, wear Hijab and so on. There are things that we must do, must not do, better to do, better not to do and allowed. There are called:
Wajib(must do, if not done then you get sins)
Haram(must not do, if done then you get sins)
Mustahab( better to do, if not done then you don't get sins)
Makruh(better not to do, if done then you don't get sins)
Jaiz(allowed)

The things that are wajib are praying, fasting, giving money to charity and so on.
The things that are Haram are listening to music, taking drugs and alcohol,killing yourself and others and so on.
The things that are mustahab are Salatul Layl, reading quran dua and so on.
The things that are makruh are praying salah in front of the mirror or picture, blowing your food when it's hot and so on.
That things that are jaiz is anything you can do in your free time like, reading, eating fruit and so on.
There are also five pillars of islam which are Usool. Which are:
1- Tawheed
2- Adala
3- Nubuwa
4- Imama
5- Qiyama

There are also ten pillars of islam which are:
1- Salah
2- Saum
3- Hajj
4- Zakat
5- Khums
6- Jihad
7- Amr bil marouf
8- nahi an al munkar
9- Tawala
10- Tabara

All these pillars of islam are Wajib.