Graeter’s Was… Greater!

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.

img_2340.JPG

Continue reading

Posted in What's For Food? | 4 Comments

I ♥ Ittihaad

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.

 sacred_scrolls_panoramic_450.JPG
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.

Continue reading

Posted in I ♥ Michigan, Learning | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tennessee, Here We Come!

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

christopher-place.jpg

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.

Posted in Marriage | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s Up, Doc?

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.

01.jpg

 

Continue reading

Posted in Family, Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Nikah Kitaba Survival Guide

calla_lillies.JPGNikaḥ 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.

Continue reading

Posted in Marriage, My 2 Cents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments