Visit to the Singing Sand Dunes - Qatar

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

Some time back Abi took me to the Singing Sand Dunes at Masaa'eed, a city south of Qatar. It was so nice if you walk up a dune and you will not have the trouble of walk down as you could simply back by slide down....

Singing sand dunes sing because when the sand grains go down they make a certain noise that echoes for miles. if you like you can go far away and retrace your foot prints. 

You may see birds like Little Owl, Eagle Owl, Shrike, Lark, Wheateaters and many more. Sliding or walking hard makes the dunes roar! The sand dunes is a good place for flying kites too.

There is a Soorah called Soorah Ahqaaf. Have you read the Story of Prophet Hud alaihissalaam in the Book Stories of the Prophets?

I love that book and love the stories. The author Ibn Katheer raheemahullaah says that Ahqaaf means sand dunes sand hills and the Aad the people of Hud alaihissalaam lived in the sand dunes in Yemen. Ummi has done an activity pack for me and all of you on Hud Alaihissalaam and there will be some nice activoties for us to learn about Sand dunes too. Inshaa Allaah we will get to do them soon. Look out for it. 

I really enjoyed my visit to the singing sand dunes and want to go back again too Inshaa Allaah. And I love this picture Abi took at the singing sand dunes before we left!

Have you been to the sand dunes? If you have a sand dune close to the place you live make a visit to the sand dunes and enjoy!

Maimoonah

Soorah Mulk

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

I started reciting Soorah Mulk when Ummi told me that my grandfather and my uncle both of whom have passed away (May Allaah have mercy upon them) recited every night after magrib. Alhamdulillaah they have memorised the soorah too. I pray that it intercedes for them and that they are protected from the torment of the grave.

One day I started copy writing Soorah Mulk. This way I could easily memorise the whole soorah in few days because I was reciting it every day. Alhamdulillaah.You can also try! You can memorise it by reciting it daily.

'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood said: "Whoever reads 'al-Mulk' every night, Allaah will protect him from the torment of the grave. At the time of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam), we used to call it al-mani'ah (that which protects). In the Book of Allah, there is a chapter [and] whoever recites it every night has done very well." [Sahih at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, no. 1475]

This Hadith means that on the Day of Resurrection this Surah will intercede with Allaah for the forgiveness of its reciter. (Commentary from Riyad-us-Saliheen)

Maimoonah

Sea Birds - Poem

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

Since I also like to be an ornithologist, I decided to publish a poem of sea birds. 

Hope you will enjoy!

Maimoonah

Birdwatching in Qatar!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

I love birds, and I admire every bird that looks at me from the window. Birdwatching helps me to remember Allaah's perfect creation. It is indeed knowing your Lord through His signs, signs in His creation. Allaah says in the Qur'aan, 

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

"Do they not see the birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them but Allah [none gave them the ability to fly but Allah]. Verily, in this are clear proofs and signs for people who believe (in the Oneness of Allah)."

Soorah Nahl Aayah 79

(For those of you who are studying about Tawheed and its categories, can you guess which type of Tawheed is this aayaah talking about?)

Birdwatching  means going outside to enjoy watching birds. Someone who does this is called a birdwatcher or birder. Ornithology is the study of birds, and the one who studies about birds is called an ornithologist.

This is my little fascinating, radiant birdwatching spot. It is where I read my books too!  Can you see a big bird book waiting for me to read? 

This is my big book of birds which helps me to identify different birds. It gives me information such as whether it is common or not, migrant or resident, in which months and seasons they can be seen and locations of where you can spot those different birds in Qatar.  

These are some of the birds I hear and see a lot:

Common Myna, present all year: Common Nightingale, it is seen in parks, and gardens: Common Starling which is up north and is black with "stars". you can see them now.

 

The Spanish sparrow:  The female house Sparrow on the ladder looking for me:  The Cuckoo can be seen during Spring and Autumn. Blue Rock Thrush in February and October. Citrine Wagtail seen in the north and east of Qatar: White Throated Robin a migration visitor.

The book also has information of other birds that can be seen in deserts, coastal areas, farms and gardens. 

 

 

I do not have a birdwatching kit with a binoculars and other things, but Inshaa Allaah I hope I will have one later, until then I enjoy watching birds from my rooftop and I look for them at many different parks in Qatar when I go out. 

We hope to make our own wooden bird feeder at the co op inshaa Allaah and it is going to be thrilling watching birds coming and eating. I will share with you about it later inshaa Allaah. Do you like watching birds too? If you have not tried yet just look outside your window and see what birds come and what they do. Happy birdwatching!

Maimoonah

Blog Takeover!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

By Maimoonah

السلام عليكم

I am Maimoonah. Alhamdulliah,i am eight years old. Since Ummi is taking rest, Insha Allaah I will be taking over the blog until she feels better.


I will be sharing with you my home school adventures, my very own enjoyable craft projects, our co-op cool activities, some benefits, and a lot more.

Join me here in my exciting journey of blogging, insha Allaah.

Maimoonah

Taking a Break!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalaamu Alaikum warahmathullaah ya akhawaat!

Hope all of you homeschoolers and my readers are doing well by the grace and Mercy of Allaah. Jazzaakumullaah khayr for all the lovely messages and emails that you have been sending inquiring about me. Baarakallaah Feekum for all your concerns, 

Alhamdulillaah my family and me are fine. But I am taking a compulsory break due to health reasons. Nothing serious by the mercy of Allaah, but we hope things will be better soon and we can share with you some good news too bi idhnillaah. Please do remember us in your duaa.

Maimoonah is continuing her homeschooling mostly on her own and also thanks to my fellow homeschooler in Doha she is enjoying her once  week co op classes, Alhamdulillaah. Will keep you updated on that as and when I am able to Inshaa Allaah.

For all those sisters and kids in Doha, I am sorry I was not able to continue the kids programs and workshops this year, but Inshaa Allaah everything will resume next year. Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Hope and pray your homeschooling is continuing well and your kids are benefiting.

Inshaa Allaah!

Ramadhaan Plans 2015

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sulaymaan bin Moosa [d119H] – Allah have mercy on him – said:
"When you fast, your hearing and sight should also fast, and your tongue should fast by keeping away from lies; and do not harm your servant. Don’t let the day you fast be the same as the day you don’t fast."
(Târîkh Dimishq Vol. 22 p389.)

Alhamdulillaah another Ramadhaan is here and May Allaah bless us to to witness it and benefit from His Mercy and help us make these days different from the days we do not fast! Aameen.

It is nice to see all the homeschoolers around the world getting ready with lot of activities to engage the children this Ramadhaan.

It is also interesting to see how children grow and activities differ year after year as lots of changes do happen and we tend to cater to those changes every year. This year Inshaa Allaah Maimoonah hopes to have a Journal where she would write benefits from "Fasting from Alif to Ya" by Umm Mujahid,

Alhamdulillaah this book is written in such away that everyday it covers  point of benefit from the Arabic Letter Alif  ا   to Yaa   ي. Each chapter explains a matter related to fasting. Each day the subject matter is an Arabic word that begins with one of the Arabic letters and this goes on in the Arabic alphabetical order. For example the First chapter is all about "Ihtisaab" which means consciously seeking the reward of Allaah with good deed. Then the chapter explains about it linking it to fasting.

Here is a summary of what you get in the book according to the publishers:

"This newly revised work about the blessed month of Ramadhaan contains additional daily points of benefit to teach one how to live Islaam as a way of life. Plus, it contains stories of the Prophets and Messengers including activities for the whole family to enjoy and benefit from for each day of Ramadhaan. Some of the Prophets and Messengers covered include Aadam, Ibraaheem, Lut, Yusuf, Sulaymaan, Shu’ayb, Moosa, Zakariyyah, Muhammad, and more! Additionally it has recipes for foods enjoyed by Muslims around the world."

And the good news is Maashaa Allaah the author Umm Mujahid will be having live classes via wiziq every day during Ramadhaan covering this book and explaining each chapter each day. This class is only for women and if you want to join the class enroll here

We chose this book and a journal of benefits this year as I want Maimoonah to understand how to benefit from reading and listening. She will be attending the classes and we will be reading and discussing each chapter everyday. Then she can write the Arabic Word, its meaning and some benefits each day and decorate her journal. This will also pave the way to get used to taking notes, listening carefully and writing down the benefits,

Additionally she will be trying to recite the Qur'aan as much as possible along with memorization.

She also wants to do some sewing as she got this easy little sewing machine that sews without thread as a gift from a dear friend of mine, Using felt she is able to do many little project without too much hassle,



We may also choose some activities from some of the following links as we go on:

• Iman Homeschool - Ramadhaan Activities 
• TJ Ramadhaan Resources
• A Muslim Homeschool Ramadhaan Resources 
• Thirty Lessons in Fasting by Shaykh Fowzan 
• Ramadhaan - 30 days Curriculum

Here are some more Ramadhaan Activities to choose from for different ages:

• Know about Fasting - Islaam The Basics
• Ramadhaan Activity Packs
• Pre School Ramadhaan Activity Pack
• A Muslim Child is Born - Ramadhaan Resources
• Smart Ark Ramadhaan Fun stuff
• Our own Ramadhaan Activities over the years

May Allaa make this a fruitful Ramadhaan for all of us. What are your plans?