Monday, April 23, 2012

Ramadan Excitement

I know, Ramadan doesn't start for another 87 (Friday July 20th, 2012), but I am super excited! This will be my very first participation in the fasting and praying of this special religious occasion. I observed my fiance and his brother go through the month of Ramadan last year, and enjoyed the excitement, dedication and spirituality that filled our home during that month.
I have big plans for my first Ramadan! I have already started my homemade decorations and crafts. I have also started planning some family activities that will be charitable and religiously educational. I still have a lot of learning to do actually. I still need to memorize the prayers and get the prayer steps right. My darling husband is extremely patient and devoted in teaching me, I love him very much and am so thankful to have him in my life.
I found this great guide to also help me in learning the prayers. The website I got this from (http://www.islamicposters.co.uk/) has lots of great Islamic guides and educational posters!

So back to my excitement for Ramadan!  I have been so very crafty today! I made `stained glass candles`to light during the month of Ramadan and have started some ornaments to hang on a twig tree of some sort as a decoration. The stained glass candles are made from old jars that I had cleaned and saved for projects such as this. They turned out fabulous so far and I plan on making many more but with the help of family and friends as a social group activity as well. I think my husband would enjoy this the most. His eyes lit up when I showed him my finished project and my ideas to make a very special Ramadan and Ramadans to come for our future family!




Beautiful Ramadan Candles
 I have also came up with a couple of cute ideas to start our family off on the right track. One is to help us to develop a better everyday vocabulary (no swearing or vulgar language). It will make us better people and create a better environment to start and raise a family in. I call it the "Swear Jar"! Yep, we have a swear jar! I even made a cute quote to put on the label! It states "If you utter the slightest profanity, the right thing to do is to donate to charity!" I love it! It turned out great and you'd never think it, but EVERYBODY uses it! Even our guests! We plan on donating the money from the swear jar to the local Mosque. The second idea is also a jar project (yeah, I have a lot of jars saved up)! This one I call the "Sadaqah Jar"! It is a voluntary charitable donation jar. So when we have loose change (and we have done a good job in watching our language), we can drop it is the Sadaqah Jar! When that one is filled up we will decide on a relief effort we shall donate the proceeds too (Im thinking the relief effort for Syria would be a good one). Here are our family's lovely jars...
Sadaqah and Swear Jar

Swear Jar
"If you mention the slightest profanity,
the right thing to do is to donate to charity!"

Sadaqah and Swear Jar


5 comments:

  1. Assalamualaikum,

    Praise to Allah for giving guidance to all of us...MashaAllah...very creative of you...don't you want to share the DIY of it?

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  2. Wa alaikum assalam!

    Thank you so very much for your comment and suggestion! I think that is a fabulous idea! I will definitely make a tutorial on those candles, Inshallah, and some other projects I have completed and am currently working on. Thanks again, take care!

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  3. Slam Alikom Megan,
    I found your blog while I was searching for Muslims crafty blog,and I was so happy to find urs.
    Masha Allah you r amazing.
    may Allah help you with your new Journey and make it easy for you to study and follow Islam.
    I have my own Islamic store on Etsy,and I really really want to send you one of my Ramadan banners as a "congratulations" for being a new Muslim :)
    If you don't mind plz visit my blog and my store, and plz send me your address if you live in USA to send you my gift.
    My Blog:
    http://noahscraps.blogspot.com/
    My Store on Etsy :
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/NoahScraps

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  4. Wa alaikum assalam Tasnim,
    Thank you so much for your comments on my blog! I really appreciate them and your support.
    My journey hasn't been easy, and at the moment am having some struggles revolving around the hijab, but it has never effected my faith. I have full faith and trust in Allah and with my dedication I know he will always guide me in the right direction, Ishallah.
    Your store is amazing! Did you make all those items? Wow! Mashallah! That is great! May Allah reward you for your efforts! :D
    Your blog as well is Mashallah, very inspiring! I am following your blog and look forward to reading more posts!
    I live in Canada, but thank you for your offering such a sweet gift. I will pray for you and thank Allah for your kindness!
    Again, thank you for your comments! May Allah bless you and your family! Take care!

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  5. Slam Alikom Megan,
    I know it will be hard at the beginning but as u said Allah will always guide u and help u in ur way.
    please whenever you need any help just tell me.
    about my store, yeah all Items in my store are totally handmade by me Alhamdu lellah :)
    I'm trying to cover Muslims in this field.
    you will notice how hard to find any decorations and cards for Islamic holidays,and that is way I started my store :)
    I'm very happy that you liked them and that I have you in my blog followers :),but please forgive me as I'm not a regular blogger :( I have my one year son who keep me busy all the time :)
    I will always keep u in my Duaa and hope you become stronger to face anything ISA.

    ReplyDelete