0 Nothing but Love by Zeneefa Zaneer (Book Review)

Love, it’s a word that keeps you moving through your life. But sometimes making you crazy. Being mindful of the Creator and seeking his guidance to act wisely at times of trials in our love is indeed a gift which is given to someone who is gifted.

Baraka (blessing), this is a really a suitable name to be given to this dazzling beauty (the main character) for the jewel of qualities she possesses in her life (forgiving, forbearing, a pure innocent heart, well-wishing for others, striving for the good of others despite her own sufferings.)

Understanding a human with a whole perspective is so important when it comes to establishing the foundation of a sacred family unit.

What captivated me was how Baraka deals with Amash’s behavior, wisely and kindly with a broad understanding of his past and considering the future, though she herself is in an emotional roller-coaster.

Something I would like to highlight here is, when it come to boys, they are mostly unable to verbalize the emotions running within themselves unlike girls are, which in return turns into aggressiveness and stubbornness along with all the fluctuating hormones. More preference should be given to the emotional well-being of a child than it’s given to college degrees. Because the expected outcome from a high education cannot be enjoyed or produced by a person when he is emotionally unstable. (May Allah protect us)

It’s the responsibility of every parent or guardian to pay to attention to their emotions carefully with an understanding attitude. The unattended emotional traumas have a major outcome in their growth as well as the future which is a serious matter to be concerned, as he is the one going to be the head of the family and has to deal with the emotions of the growing youths who are going to come out of him.

Being aggressive or trying to avoid family tasks and gatherings is a matter to be concerned and taken into consideration at the beginning of the course.

Being a supportive wife is far more different than being a life-coach for the soulmate. It is not an easy task like the heroic Baraka was. It demands tons of patience and forbearance and another ton must be added when non-understanding in-laws are involved :) 

When it comes to marriage union it’s a give and take process.

From beginning to end the feminine qualities of this damsel is something magical, which can mold and melt the heart of an arrogant and stubborn man into a family man.

The gem packed qualities of Baraka are something that should be possessed by every woman sincerely for the sake of Almighty, that’s when the unrevealed doors of help open up to balm and comfort the broken soul.

The ending of the novel is fantastic with carefully measured ingredients of a wonderful marriage recipe (by author Zeneefa Zaneer). Here are a few lines, you can bake the stuff if you get the whole recipe from the book :)

Take two empty hearts
Glue them with a halal knot
Fill them with a few cups of trust
Throw in some slices of interest
Pour a pint of care
And a barrel of laughter…

Hope you continue with your amazing master-pieces Zeneefa!

O the Most Loving, it’s with your love that we are able to love each other for your sake, because anything done for other than you is lost!

1 Tikiri Baba by Yasodhara Pathanjali (Book Review)

The book “ටිකිරි බබා” (Tikira Baba) is so interesting in its context and art. The colorful art of nature along with the sweet dream of the story takes a child into an exotic world.

Indeed, a beautiful work of color and thoughts really connects the mind of a child to the beautiful creation around them. 

My 5 year old really enjoys it and as she could not understand Sinhala, she wanted me to translate it into English several times, as she loved it so much and enjoys the beauty of art while I translate it to her.

Of course, it is a wonderful work of combining both, the colorful creation of God, and the fascinating thoughts of little children together.
 

Keep up with the Job sister Yasodhara!!!

Find her homeschool page @ Wildberries Go Exploring

0 Coming Of Age - A Muslim Girls Guide (Book Review)

Alhamdulillah, once back here with a wonderful book which was gifted to our beloved daughters by hubby.

It was something that I was longing on having when I came across many books for young girls in non-Islamic perspective and was thrilled when I came across this lovely book which guides a young girl with an Islamic perspective on reaching her puberty.

Masha Allah, worth gifting for girls who are about to reach their puberty and beyond. May Allah bless the author, sister Hedaya Hartford who converted to Islam in 1981, and studied extensively for over 30 years with scholars in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, and known for her Shari’a expertise on women’s issues regarding the fiqh on menstruation, lochia, marriage, divorce, and modern social issues.

The points are well put and organized in an awesome way with real life stories that every girl will surely love it and as well get to know several other important points that most of the times when parents feel shy or guilty to discuss which is not the real case should be.

The explanations are given clear and simple that can be understood by everyone. Also it makes them understand how unique and well-designed is the female body and the fascinating system that happens on every cycle, Subhanallah.

I’m pleased that my 12-year-old daughter is finding it very interesting and useful.

Table of content and sample page

May Allah accept every minute efforts of us taken on guiding our off sprigs in the straight path!

2 Silent Fighter (Irfan Hafiz) Book Review

Subhanallah, Indeed, we are really blessed with many blessings which we take it for granted. Being blessed physically is one of the greatest blessing that most of us don’t understand, and we only realize it once any defect occurs. (May Allah grant us all good health!)

It is amazing to see people who inspire the world despite great tests from Allah, which they take is as a blessing. Masha Allah. Only a person of real faith can overcome the tests with a positive mind and inspire the world with the awesome gifts that Allah has provided them.

One of the inspirational human we came across in this regard was brother Irfan Hafiz, a DMD patient, which is one of the rarest disease in the world. Subhanallah, a shining example for each of us. This brother is mentioning each and every step of his life in his book "Silent Thoughts” as a blessing from Allah. Subhanallah!

The stories were really heart melting and moving to tears. Lying in the bed for 16 years unable to move the limbs and creating such a wonderful work is to be highly appreciated. Hope that it is an excellent example for many families. Some of this brother’s golden qualities are worth to be inculcated in our own lives. Being positive and an optimist, not giving up, quest for knowledge, being content and grateful to the blessings of Allah, most of all accepting the decree of Allah whole heatedly and happily etc... WONDERFUL.

What I felt after reading his books was all about the emotional support he gets from his family. I’m a person who strongly believe that emotions play a critical role in one’s life. His mom ‘s story was so wonderful and impressive for me and an excellent model for every mum on how to handle the most unbearable grief and problems in an awesome way, and his father’s stories too were amazing Masha Allah.

Each and every one of the family have taken this sickness as a blessing and not as a curse…. Subhanallah, NOT AN EASY JOB. May Allah accept you all!

The wear out of the book shows how interesting and sounds real that our kids loved reading it again and again.

Silent Fighter's Facebook page Link

Also don't miss to watch his interview in Tamil
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3 

2 Blooming Authors

While all the events of day-to-day life pass routinely from sunup to sundown in the houses and apartments across the globe, it’s the people within (the members of the family), who make these rooms a home for all who dwell there.

A family is a holy unit. Children are the main seeds of the unit to sprout and pass on the believes and values of the family. Sadly, today we are in a world that is snatching this valuable gift (children) from their parents at a very tender age. The pleasure of observing the beautiful nature of the children is vanishing from our society. It looks like we’ve sold them to the policy of the industrial world.

Letting the child to run his course is the beauty of creation. Subhanallah! Being a homeschool mum of four really fascinates me to see that each child is unique and how they have their own pace of learning.

Children do well when they feel like they do, and not by force. This is the truth. Learning is something to be done throughout life and never to be stopped at a specific age. It is the LOVE for learning that should be instilled in a child that makes him search for it, Insha Allah.

Today we are here with the books of our two little authors. Here is a page from Little Princess's 

And here is the Big Sister's

Most of the time I tell them stories at dinner. They really enjoy it! This was something they wrote down just as a time pass from all what they hear. Alhamdulillah, finally they transformed it into a book. Hope that it builds up their encouragement and make them move forward further in learning the truth!

0 Psychology from the Islamic Perspective (Book Review)

 

Indeed, We sent down to you the Book for the people in truth. So whoever is guided - it is for [the benefit of] his soul; and whoever goes astray only goes astray to its detriment. And you are not a manager over them. [39:41]

First and most I thank the Rabb of the universe who created the heavens, the earth and provided the humanity the great gift of Islam which is a complete and comprehensive religion. Subhanallah!

Yes, I am here after a quite long time to share some of the knowledge which seemed to be beneficial to me and with the hope that it will be beneficial for my sisters too Insha Allah!

Today we are in a world which is filled with mental illnesses like anxiety, worry, distress, and depression which will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020. These are the words heard across the globe rather than the words happy, calm, and peace which Islam promotes and for what Islam was gifted for.

Subhanallah! What is the reason….?  It is the deprivation of SPIRITUALITY. While I was going through some psychological books was feeling that something was missing. Though, it covered most of my doubts like causes, symptoms, stages of psychological issues etc… the missing part was SPIRITUALITY. The soul requires a spiritual connection to its sources, The Creator, just as the body requires food and water to survive.

This is a wonderful book written by Dr. Aisha Utz, worth to be read by all of the Muslim psychiatrists.

The main weaknesses of the secular approach to psychology is that:

• Human are viewed as independent of their creator and Lord
• Theories are based upon human intellect alone, apart from the revelation of the creator
• Knowledge and research focus only on tangible aspects of humans, while ignoring the spiritual and unseen elements
• Behaviors are generally seen to be determined solely by drives, reflexes, conditioning and social influences.

To understand the true nature of humans in an Islamic framework, it is important to go back to this story of their creation, as detailed in the Quran. We can glean a great deal of knowledge from the well-known story, knowledge that is beyond the realm of scientific theories and speculations.

Here are some of the lessons about human being on an Islamic view:

Human are unique in their creation and distinct from their creator. Human was placed on earth for a purpose which is to worship Allah. They are his successors on earth, and all of the earth’s resources are been made subservient to them.

The key to salvation and happiness is in following the guidance that comes from Allah. This will determine the value of this life and their states in the hereafter.

As parents it is important to know that which is norm and abnormal behavior of kids, adolescents, and so on... to build up a healthy and brave society Insha Allah.

0 The Whole-Brain Child (Book Review)

I thank the Rabb of the universe for guiding me. This is a wonderful book that is very useful and amazing.

Each and every parents are often experts about their children’s bodies. They know that a temperature above 98.6 degrees is a fever. They know to clean out a cut so it doesn’t get infected. They know which foods are most likely to leave their child wired before bedtime.

 
But even the most caring best educated parents often lack basic information about their child’s brain. Isn’t this surprising?

Hope this book will be a very effective tool for every parents as it did for me to understand what a child goes through in each stage of his life. There are numerous marvelous points which opened up my eyes Subhanallah!  I will try to share just a few points to show that how much it is important to raise a whole brain child.

By raising a whole-brain child we are actually offering our future grandchildren an important gift. Let us close our eyes for a moment and imagine our child holding his child and realize the power of what we are passing on. And it won’t stop there, our grandchildren can take what they learnt from their parents and pass it future along as a continuing legacy of joy and happiness Insha Allah. This is how we integrate our lives across the generation.

The great news the whole-brain child offers is that even the hard times we go through with our kids, even the mistakes we make as parent, are opportunities to help our children grow, learn, and develop into people who are happy, healthy and fully themselves Insha Allah.

Rather than ignoring their big emotions or distracting them from their struggles, we can nurture their whole brain, walking with them through their challenges.

It is nothing to put too much pressure on ourselves. The important point is taking advantage of the moment we have with our kids and remain aware of the daily opportunities to nurture our kids’ development. But that doesn’t mean we have to constantly be talking about the brain. It is important to relax and have fun together. And yes, sometimes it is even okay to leave a teachable moment pass by.

This is what the beloved Prophet of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم did with the young Sahabas رضى لله عنهم, fianally who were able to carry the Deen of Allah across the globe fully prepared to face the challenges. 

I hope that what I have shared will inspire the readers to go through the book to get an amazing idea of the whole-brain process Insha Allah.