A Good Trip, a Bereavement and a Quiet Eid

Assalam-alaikam, I am back from my Ramadan trip. We had planned to go Germany and then thought we might be going to Ireland. In the end we went to Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, UK. I had a brilliant two weeks away spending time with Alima’s (female scholars) and other Sisters who helped me by checking if my salah was correct, guiding me with my Quran tajweed (pronunciation), giving me advice about the best way to spend Ramadan and the best ibadat (worship) at any given time, as well as answering my numerous questions. If I have time I will try to type up my notes from some of the talks that took place and which I took during study circles. Subhan’Allah, I was amazed at the number of reverts to Islam I came across at every circle and at every home I visited. So many of them had seen so many hardships, lost so much and made so many sacrifices and yet were so solid in their faith mash’Allah.

Whilst I was away, my sisters called to say my grandfather had passed away. He was the last of my four grandparents and it was difficult being away from home, but the Sisters with me were so supportive and made dua for him as did the brothers at the masjid alhamdulillah. Mum came back from Pakistan a week before he died because her health meant that staying on would lead to her missing fasts. Her little sister came back the night before he passed away. Please do remember him and us in your dua’s.

I managed to get most of my Eid prep done before I went away with my sisters doing the rest for me (jazakh’Allah!). We will most likely be having a quiet Eid, spending time together and keeping each other positive insh’Allah.