Three Steps To Improve Your Concentration In Prayer

Concentrating on my prayer is something I find extremely hard, especially since I had my baby. Any mother will know that unless they are being looked after by someone else (which isn't possible at every prayer time or any for some people) they are either grabbing your legs/skirt/hijab, destroying something they're not supposed to be, eating something they're not supposed to be, or crying. In any case, you can't help but watch them out of the corner of your eye, or rush to finish your prayer to stop them crying (or even attempt to pray and hold them at the same time!). None of this is very conducive to concentration!!

This Really Made Me Think

I recently watched this khutbah and a few of things he said really made me think about my own actions as well as what I have witnessed from other. In a discussion with a Non-Muslim at the beginning of Ramadan I was sad to hear about this person's Muslim colleague, who has been in a 'foul mood' all day due to having to fast. What a bad impression to be giving of Ramadan! I think it is really important not to complain about how thirsty or hungry or tired we are and made Non-Muslims think that Ramadan is some sort of extreme barbaric practise. Instead we should do our best to highlight the benefits of this amazing month, alhamdulillah.

To Fast Or Not To Fast... While Breastfeeding???

Fasting and breastfeeding at the same time was something that worried me at first and a lot of people I know are unsure of what to do or worried about it so I thought I'd share my experiences.

Since Ramadan is in the middle of summer at the moment and we have to fast around 18 hours here in the UK, it seems a long time to go without eating or drinking when I am losing a lot to a hungry baby at the same time.

I was also worried about the Islamic rulings as I had been given conflicting advice and read a range of differing opinions online. Should I:

Fellow Muslim

A poem written by one of my good friends, excellent reminder for Ramadan

Fellow Muslim, I see you there

So quick to judge, but never fair

I wonder much, do you not see

Muhammad's (pbuh) way is gentle, free

Of malice, scorn, so crude and vile

Such spite, your own soul does defile

Stop Motion Blu Tack

Randomly found this stop motion animation I made with blu-tack when I was at uni, thought I'd share! Ahh I miss my time at uni when I had time to do things like this!! I also miss having time to pamper myself, have a relaxing bath (on my own), and to spontaneously go out to the cinema or some event at the last minute and just take my dinner with me in a sandwich!

However, I would never want to swap my gorgeous baby and husband for making stop motion animations, and hopefully at some point he'll be old enough to make them with me! (baby not husband).

This seemed like a good idea at the time...

One date later..... enough said!

We did manage to finish them in the end, 2 days past their best by date! Somehow fasting makes me feel justified in eating whatever I want in those 5 short hours between iftaar (breaking fast) and suhur (starting the next fast). Especially after watching that programme about the fast diet where you can apparently eat whatever you like in-between fasts.