#Shaping Your Story, Week Three

#Shaping Your Story,   Week Three

In my week two #shaping your story, I wrote about Ramadan and the day after. It’s the day when fasting is over and Muslims all over the world celebrate by having a feast with friends and family.

I got an invitation to attend the dinner to celebrate Eid after a month of fasting. when the time for me came to get dressed and visit the friend’s house, a telephone call changed everything, our good friend of many years suddenly passed away. The invitation did not take place. It was time to visit his family to give them moral support.

I think the angle that illustrates my story is why my dinner invitation did not take place.

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#Shaping Your Story : Week Two

#Shaping Your Story : Week Two

The Invitation!

Friday fifteenth was Eid-al Fitr, a celebration by Muslims all over the world a day when Ramadan is over, it’s time to celebrate.

One of my friends invited me for Friday but  I could not make it so I asked the hostess if it’s all right for me to go and see her family and her mom on Saturday. She was gracious and said, ‘We’d love to see you on Saturday and we’d love you to have dinner with us.’

I was happy I’d  wish them, ‘Eid Mubarak,’ we’d  spend the evening with them.

Saturday morning I asked my daughter to drop me off at the friend’s house, she agreed but told me she couldn’t stay for dinner, she already had other plans. I said, ‘it’s all right I’ll let them know.’

Since Friday I kept thinking what will I take for the family, perhaps something from Costco, but I wasn’t quite happy taking sweet stuff.

Saturday morning I did my usual stuff like cleaning the kitchen and my room, at the same time wondering what will I wear, I kept the thought to rest and calmed myself saying, ‘I have plenty of clothes, I’ll pick one, it’s not a big deal.

In the afternoon I went to the mall with my daughter, she had some cards to buy while I waited for her. I sat on a bench and said, ‘I must take something with me, instantly I thought of Sugar Mama, a bakery store, it’ll be great to buy their impressive cupcakes for the family.’

I told Selina about my plan, she agreed it is the best gift for them.

We got out from the mall away we went to, “Sugar Mama,” picked a dozen cupcakes, before I got into the car, Selina said,  ‘Mom you better carry these on your lap I’m afraid to leave them at the back.’

On our way home for some reason I bent over to get the mail, so I won’t forget, while doing it I shook the cupcakes a bit and the ones on top had the icing ruined. My daughter was furious why I thought of the mail at that time. I remained calm thinking our hostess would forgive me for this.

We came home left the cupcakes in the porch, while I quickly washed and got ready for my prayer. When I was in the bathroom I heard the phone, immediately I had an ominous feeling that this was a call which will give me bad news. 

I shook off my negative feeling, said my prayer. I then checked who called, the number was unfamiliar,  I didn’t know if it was for me or was it a wrong number.

I picked up the receiver what I heard completely baffled me, she apologized for cancelling the invitation, said,   ‘Auntie  Uncle Rahman had a stroke, he is dead!’

I could not help thinking,   “Man Proposes God disposes,”   Mr. Rahman was a very good friend of our family!

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Shaping Your Story

Ramadan

Ramadan is  a fasting month that comes once a year. This year we started it on May 16th. Not all Muslims around the world started it on the same day. We were given a calendar from the local mosque, according to them, we were to start on the date I mentioned, regardless of the fact that others started a day later.

A month before  fasting, I got an eerie feeling will I successfully begin and end the month?

June is a long month for fasting in our city, we finish eating by 3 AM and continue until sunset, at this time, food or drink is not allowed.

So far I managed to fast nineteen days and I hope I’ll continue until it’s over.

Each morning I read the Quran after I finish eating. It reminds me I’m only here for a short while, the real place is hereafter. I try to think back if I have accumulated enough good deeds to get a place where I will not face any hardship.

It doesn’t matter what I think,   it’s up to God who decides our fate.

Fasting is one of the good deeds, I hope I can complete it  successfully this month without problems!

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The Month Of Ramadan

#Shaping your story

Each year before the month of fasting begins I’m scared thinking would I be able to fast for thirty days? The days are so long, what will happen.

These are the thoughts I had this time too. The first day I felt a little sick, later in the morning I felt better. I was proud of myself for completing one whole day. The next day and the next felt the same sick early morning and felt better after a few hours.

After the first few days, I had no more problems. The fact I could fast for thirty days in a row was something I felt proud of.

After Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal, during this month if we can fast for six days, we get credit for sixty days, so fasting thirty days during Ramadan and six days in the month of Shawwal, these thirty six days is equal to a whole year of Sawab in Arabic.

Sawab means a virtuous deed, a religious deed.

Today is my fourth day of fasting in the month of Shawwal. Fasting gives me a great feeling, apart from virtuous deed, it also helps me  control my craving for junk food.

Besides I’m told fasting is good for health. To me it gives my organs time to deal with the food already there, overloading them will mean extra work for the heart, the kidneys and I presume helps to bring down my blood sugar.

With all these advantages I’m getting, I may fast for three days each month to help my organs function without problems. It also cleans my mind of bad thoughts.