Of Gram Flour & Mango Pickle…

Peace, one and all

Today, my wife and I took a trip to Birmingham, to buy food for Ramadan (and also to spend some time together).  Now, for those who’ve never been to this city before, Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city (after London) and has a very concentration of Muslims, al hamdu lillah.  It’s a lively, noisy, bustling, somewhat shabby city.  It’s nice to walk the streets and to see lots of other Muslims.  My wife enjoys it too, because a hijab is not out of place there.  It has to be said that the town where live (Merthyr Tydfil) doesn’t have a very large Muslim community (the nearest actual mosque is 10 miles away in Aberdare).  So, being amongst other Muslims is nice.  There are also some decent book shops too (though for once, I didn’t buy anything; that’s not to say I didn’t tease myself though).

We stocked up on Asian foods for the coming of Ramadan.  So, our house is now full of gram flour (for pakoras), achar (pickle) and mango juice.  Al hamdu lillah, by their smells ye shall know them…  The house is now awash with all many of colourful things.  One vegetable looks rather like a hairy potato (though it’s really tasty)!  We’ve even got vermicelli (I can’t pronounce, much less spell the Urdu word) for suhoor!

I’m also looking forward to going to my in-law’s house.  Insha Allah, my mother-in-law will make something special.  It’s a strange fact of our marriage that my wife enjoys pizza and stuff, whilst I like nothing better than achar gosht!  This year we’ll have a new member present, insha Allah, in the person of my brother-in-law Ibn Sifet from Bosnia.

When you think about it, Ramadan means (amongst other things of course): fasting, food and family.  Allah, Allah!

Ah, Ramadan, Ramadan…

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

A Prayer of Rabi’a al-`Adawiyya

Peace, one and all…

Rabi`a al-`Adawiyya is reported to made the following prayer of love:

‘O God, the night has passed away and the day has dawned.  How I long to know if You have accepted my prayers or if You  have rejected them.  Therefore console me, for it is Yours to console this state of mine.  You have given me life and cared for me, and Yours is the glory.  If You want to drive me from Your door, yet I still would not forsake it, for that love that I bear in my heart towards You’.

Ya Allah, grant me purity of intention like this.  Accept this deed for Your sake alone.Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Watching Children Play…

Peace, one and all

Here’s another ditty…

‘Watching children play,

Each one lost in their own private worlds;

Eager, laughing, absorbed in play.

This must be how God sees us.

For every adult is but a child in disguise,

Lost to all else save their own games’.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman