A Nightingale

Patience, Perserverence & Preservation– Zayd ibn Thabit

Ayesha — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:51:56 +0000

I’m currently enrolled in an Al-Huda 4 Week Summer Course. In it we study the tafsir of certain selected verses, practice reciting with proper tajweed, memorize different du’as, learn about various figures in Islamic history, and finally go over different aspects of good Muslim behavior. Today we had an assignment to find an example of patience in the life of any companion of the Prophet sallalahu alyahi wasalaam. I used this site to find an amazing story. Below is the post I wrote on my class forum to complete the assignment.

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In class we mentioned the idea of having patience and knowing that when one door closes, another door opens. Such is the case of Zayd ibn Thabit, radhiAllahu ‘anhu.

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It’s Almost That Time Again…

Ayesha — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:02:41 +0000

I saw it on the counter the other day… a registration packet from school for my younger brother-in-law. It’s almost that time again.; time to go… Back to school!

Today I’m going to be visiting the new school where I’ll be teaching this fall. I need to pick up my textbooks. There’re only two! This is a major relief after the number of books I lugged around last year. I’m only teaching Algebra 1 & Geometry as opposed to last year when I was teaching a whole hodge podge of classes– 4th grade Science, Math, Social Studies, Islamic Studies, Computers; 6th grade Computers; 10th grade Algebra 2; 9th grade Biology.

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Graeter’s Was… Greater!

Ayesha — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:59:46 +0000

About a year ago Saqib was looking online for good ice cream shops and he stumbled upon a company named Graeter’s. He was so excited to read about this company because the site kept praising it as one of the best ice creams in America. The company sets itself apart from the rest because they use a unique method to make their ice cream– the French Pot method.

After reading up on the store, he shortly thereafter became bummed out. Why? Because the store is only open in IN, OH and KY. The closest one to him, in Illinois, was more than four hours away! How would he ever get to eat the yummy ice cream he’d read so much about?

Enter our plans for our honeymoon. We decided a while ago to drive to Tennessee. We wanted to drive because we wanted the chance to stop at different places on our way down. We were discussing different places we could stop and eat at on our drive down when we realized we would cross the path of… Graeter’s!

So on Friday when we left, after about 5 hours of driving, we took a detour in Louisville KY and pulled into this place.

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I ♥ Ittihaad

Ayesha — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:32:51 +0000

This past weekend Saqib and I returned from our Honeymoon, and arrived back in Illinois just in time for the AlMaghrib course Sacred Scrolls. It was a one weekend seminar taught by both Imam Suhaib Webb and Shaykh Yasir Qadhi.

Click the picture above.

I was a little anxious to go to an AlMaghrib class in Illinois because I’ve only been attending them in Michigan and Canada. My tribe, Qabeelat Ittihaad holds classes in both Dearborn and Windsor. I’ve grown accustomed to the people, the set up, the lunches, the dinners, etc. I wasn’t sure how they did things here in Chicago in Qabeelat Wasat.

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Tennessee, Here We Come!

Ayesha — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:00:14 +0000

The bags are packed. The Garmin is out. The cooler is set. Our path is marked. Tennessee, here we come!

Saqib and I are first hitting up Newport, TN and staying in the above photographed, lovely inn called Christopher Place. Next stop is Gatlinburg, TN, a town nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. It’s only 2 miles wide and filled with neat little touristy things to do. On our agenda is horseback riding and a sky lift right over the town and mountains.

If you know Saqib and I, the first thing we planned out was what we’re going to eat for the next five days. You can look forward to a reflection post for our meals. And of course, pictures will be included!

Until then, sit tight and wait patiently for a lot of pictures and a lot reviews.

What’s Up, Doc?

Ayesha — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:45:39 +0000

I’ve been asked recently, quite a few times, about my whereabouts and happenings. What has happened to Ayesha Siddique over the past few weeks?

Not too much, I guess

Two Saturdays back, as was mentioned in the previous post, I had my ruksati wedding party with my one and only SaqibSaab. Sunday we made a few rounds with different relatives, and Monday his parents left back to Illinois. We didn’t leave Michigan until Tuesday.

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The Nikah Kitaba Survival Guide

Ayesha — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:07:22 +0000

Nikaḥ kitāba, otherwise known as “celibate marriage,” has become an increasingly common and preferred way of marriage for many young Muslim couples. A young man and woman may find themselves wanting to marry one another, but at the time are unable to live together. So instead of being engaged for long periods of time and making things difficult for the two, they choose to wed by nikaḥ kitāba.

This practice is actually a tradition of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who married Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, and delayed consummation until she was older.

After over 18 months of being married by nikaḥ kitāba, today marks the day my husband and I will be having our “ruksathi” wedding party after which will begin to live our lives together forever, inshaAllah. After a wonderful year and a half of a beautiful relationship Allah blessed us with, we came up with what we feel is an essential survival guide for couples undergoing the same journey we just completed. If you are married by nikāḥ kitāba or will be in the future, then this list is for you.

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I ♥ My Room

Ayesha — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:06:03 +0000

The countdown to my wedding is no longer being measured in weeks, but rather in days. I’ve got four more days until I’ll officially have “moved out” of my house. I’ll actually be leaving Michigan on Monday, but I suppose the rukhsati marks my departure from my house.

I can’t describe how sad I am to leave my home because there are too many things I love about it. But I think I can at least try to describe the many reasons I love my own room and why I will subsequently miss it.

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Happy 9th Birthday, Hijab!

Ayesha — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:16:55 +0000

It’s been nine whole years since I started wearing hijab. In 1999, just like today, it was Friday the 13th of June. It was the day after 8th grade finished and the first day of summer. I threw on that hijab with determination never to stop.

But what brought me to wearing it? What was my epiphany that forced me to rethink my values and take a step towards Allah? What was my story?

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I ♥ Meijer

Ayesha — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:19:24 +0000

It all started with a horse– Sandy.

What felt like almost everyday, ammi and I would go to Meijer when I was a little kid. And whenever she would pay for groceries, she would quickly plop me down on the pony, drop in a penny, and let me have a “wild ride”. Despite the fact that this pony only went back forth at a rate of 1/2 a mile per hour, I thought it was unbelievably fun.

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