I’d Be More Concerned If We Didn’t Get Tested!

You know I have been pretty fortunate, rather blessed my whole life. Masha’Allah. I think that right now is likely the lowest point I have ever been in, at least in my adult life, as a child I had it all but I’m sure my parents struggled. Many have expressed ‘condolences’ (?) for our situation, and many have us in their thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all of that. However, I honestly don’t think things are as bad as they may seem (but please keep us in your prayers). As a matter of fact, our test is pretty light compared to the test of others. Yet, the favors and blessings of Allah are many!

Right off hand, I can name two. 1. Neither my husband or I have seen our families in years (my husband 7 and me 10!). He got to spend about 3 months combined this year with them. 2. My mother recently retired and said for me to get her a visa and she will come help me out with the kids, cuz she doesn’t want her baby wearing herself out 🙂

So we just have to keep in mind that life is a test and that their are many benefits to being tested by Allah.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested.

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:2-3] 

This is my family room. It’s empty. No AC. No furniture. However, I have my family and all the Praise is Due to Allah!

According to a saheeh hadeeth: “The greatest reward comes from the greatest trial. When Allaah loves people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it gains the pleasure of Allaah and whoever complains earns His wrath.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2396; Ibn Maajah, 4031; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani.

We don’t have a dining room in the new Villa (we had 2 dining rooms in the old one!), so we eat at this little table in the kitchen. Did you here that? We EAT! Who am I to complain? Masha’Allah!

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient).

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’

They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”

[al-Baqarah 2:155-157] 

My girls don’t have their Fulla bedroom set anymore and since we only have this one little heater to share, we just all sleep in one room on the floor (we have 3 bedrooms but they are all empty). I could have been left homeless, but I have a roof over my head! Masha’Allah!

“Allaah has shared out your attitudes among you just as He has shared out your provisions. Allaah gives worldly provision to those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, but He gives religion only to those whom He loves. So whoever is given religion, Allaah loves him…” (Narrated by Ahmad, 3490; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 714).

Remember that BIG BEAUTIFUL Majlis that we had in the old Villa? We sure did enjoy it and were able to host many families there this past Ramadan for iftar. With this majlis, I’ve had to be more practical. No more parties for me. This is now my classroom/library/office. This is the room that Allah has given me the means to provide for my family in.

Allah has provided so well for my family, while my husband has been out of work, that we have not had to borrow since I have been working (mind you we borrowed often even when my husband was employed). I did not think much of it at first until recently, when I got two emails in the same day concerning two different sisters in Riyadh who were in need. The second thing that made me really ponder the fact that the provisions are from Allah, is the fact that since he has been back, he hasn’t found anyone willing to pay him the same rate that I get paid. Masha’Allah

I don’t make a whole lot of money. I haven’t been able to replace the toys we gave away (and if you know us then you know that our house was like a toy store…masha’Allah). However, the boys still find ways to entertain themselves, just by looking out of the window…and what do they see?

Men working…

…and worshipping! That’s what they see!

Wealth and children are a trial by means of which Allah tests His slaves, to know who will give thanks for them, and who will be distracted from Allah by them: 

“And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely, with Allaah is a mighty reward”

[al-Anfaal 8:28 – interpretation of the meaning] 

This is the very thing my husband is being tested with. I have all of my children and for the first time in many years, my own income – Masha’Allah. My husband on the other hand has to fight an unfair system set against him to get his daughter. As a result he has lost all of his wealth and can not accept a job as long as he is fighting this case. Do not feel sorry for him, because he doesn’t. his losing his job has actually been one of the best things that ever happened to us. Working in Saudi is not the same as working in America. We now are much mor flexible and able to pursue oter opportunities. Masha’Allah.

Remember the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

 “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.”(Narrated by Muslim, 2999).

So if calamity befalls a Muslim, he must say Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), and say the du’aa’s that have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. How great is the relief when it comes after hardship. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

 

“but give glad tidings to As‑ Saabiroon (the patient).

156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’

157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones” [al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

 

Saudi Expat Cribs

I get a lot of people inquiring about life in Saudi and housing for expats. I usually answer them as generally as possible. However, in hopes of being discovered by Reality Show producers due to popular demand, I’ve decided to share some private videos and pictures of the Villa I recently moved from, when I thought that we were all returning to the States. I really miss this Villa, but to be honest I wanted one with a bigger yard that wraps around the house and I ask Allah for this…Allahumma Aameen.

Pay no mind to my heavy breathing, I don’t know why I was walking around my house in my niqab.

Now, I will tell you that we spent ALL of our money moving into that Villa and my dh was technically unemployed at that time. The school year had just ended and his plan was to teach a summer course in Dharan (because we still had our home there on the campus) and then come back to Riyadh where he had set up his own courses with over 300 students on his waiting list. However, the death of his ex wife and this custody case changed our plans and Allah is The Best Planner.

We were able to furnish every room in the house except my room and the boys room, on a shoestring budget. We bought everything used from the Harraj (like a flea market).

Majlis 1000sr=$266.00

This set consist of an 18 seat sofa, matching curtains, 5 throw pillows, 5 armrest, and 5 small tables. It was in excellent condition.

Maghalub 500sr = $133.00

I actually bought this 22 piece set, 5 years ago. Most people put them in tents. This room is the Sunnah/Middle East/Asian dining room. When we eat in here we roll out a sufrah (plastic table cloth used for eating on the floor) and and eat on the floor. If my husband and I have guest, this is the room that the men will eat in.

The Keeping It Real Dining Room 600sr = $160.00

I can’t always eat on the floor!

Women’s Salon 800sr = $213.00

If I have company the same time my husband does, then the women will sit here and later dine in the Western Style Dining room. However, my husband never had company and the women and children were all over the house!

Upstairs Family Room 500sr =$133.00

I know it’s ugly, but my plan was to get this furniture reupholstered. the material is dirt cheap and so is the labor. It is still a good deal to have your furniture hand made, but after pricing everything, I realised that I could save a lot of money if i went to the Harraj and found furniture that was still in good condition with firm cushions and just had them reupholstered.a set made would cost around 500sr-1000sr a meter but it is only 25sr a meter to reupholster.

The girls’ room 2000sr = $533.00

The bedroom set was new, but locally made. After my husband returned from the States in September, I was able to empty this whole house in two days. I made a small profit off of the used furniture but I lost money on the 2 bedroom sets and the new appliances, like my refrigerator.

We now live in a split Villa and have had to start all over again!

A New Restaurant In Riyadh (Hijrah/Biz Opportunity)

Grand Opening of Makulaat Al Wahah

Good news! For the people of Riyadh, the good news is that we now have a Carribean restaurant in town. The good news for those interested in making hijrah and/or looking for a business opportunity, is that the expat couple from trinidad who own the restaurant, has franchises available. They are very reasonably priced. For more information contact Danle Rasheed tropicaloasisinc@gmail.com

The only thing that I know is that it’s located in Marina Mall and the menu is slamming, so please do not contact me for more infro.

TEFL As The Career Choice For The Muhaajir

This post is of a sensitive nature. I really don’t know how to say it, other than to just  speak a word straight to the point.

First, I’d like to ask that Allah facilitate  hijrah for those who sincerely desire a way out. Many Muslims in non-Muslim countries can take advantage of the fact that the Muslim world is in need of native English speakers to teach English in their countries. This has created an excellent opportunity for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. However, and unfortunately, it appears that many of the native English speaking Muslims are not qualified for the job. For years, I have been viewing the various expat forums. I can almost always tell, even without Muslim names or Islamic jargon, who the [particularly] American Muslims are. Their post are the most difficult and painstaking to read. I’m not talking about typos or bad punctuation (my areas of expertise…lol). Rather, these post are filled with the most embarrassing improper speech. When I read it, I can actually hear them speaking this way. This is how I know it was not an error and that the person actually talks like that.

I’m not writing about this to pick on anyone, because my husband is constantly telling me that I am the last person who needs to teach anybody. When I was in college, I could never get a straight A on my papers, because I had too many grammatical errors (but the content would be good enough for a high B). However, if you are looking for a job as an English teacher, then the least you could do is work on your English. These same people also seem to be the ones most offended by the fact that non-Muslims are employed in the Muslim countries. Let’s be reasonable, what are the choices?

Be that as it may, many of these half illiterate native English speakers, seem to slip through the cracks and get jobs in this part of the world. This is why my husband and I do not want our children learning English in the schools here. In most schools, you will have non-native English speaking teachers, teaching your children horrible English. On the other hand, you will find the more Islamic schools, who only wish to employ Muslim native English speakers – hiring teachers who not only do not know grammar but their spoken English is not up to par either.

This is not to offend or didiscourage people from making hijrah. However, be honest with yourself. It’s not fair to take a job (with fake credentials at that) that you are not qualified for.

Just a thought: Is it possible that the person may not even be aware that they are not speaking proper English? I ask because when they post these messages, it’s with confidence. Often times the person is even speaking with authority, telling you how it is and what to accept and what not to settle for. So it’s possible that they may not have ever been exposed to proper English and see nothing wrong with teaching broken English. Why not? The Arabs do it with Arabic.

Yeah, I know. I got a lot of nerves…this post is probably filled with errors!

More Bedo-Ghetto Family Fun

 

I know you guys are waiting for Umm Adam to take you on a royal tour of Saudi Arabia. Wrong blog! We don’t kick it like that. We do bedoghetto walima’s and have bedoghetto family fun! Don’t think we’d enjoy hanging out with the royals.

Today, we went to a spot that I just love, the concept of. It is a cheesy carnival type amusement park ideal for your typical bedouin family. Perfect for ours!

 

If you want to enjoy the out doors but with a little privacy.

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to make a whole day out of it, you can rent an istaraha for 200 Saudi Riyals from 10am-12midnight. This way you can take off your abaya, take a nap, breastfeed in private…whatever…just chill. Only in Saudi!

 

There are several trailers converted into musallahs (prayer areas) and I think an actual Masjid for the men.

 

 

 

  

Plenty of indoor and outdoor things for the kiddies to do!

If you’re hungry and you didn’t come prepared like the larger bedouin families with their own grub, and you’re tired of the typical junk food from the vendors then you can have a nice meal at this restaurant.

 

 

 

They even have a little tape and book store here. There was an Arabic book in there with a veiled woman on the cover and the title in English meant “Virgin But…”. I’d love for that book to be translated into English, I can only imagine how it was written. Probably full of tales of girls gone wild – doing everything but…

Saudi Arabia: NO HATERS ALLOWED!

 

Umar Lee has posted a Working Class Muslim Family Series. I read Part 4 “Hijrah” just now and there was one part that struck me hard.

If brothers in Muslim countries only knew how badly many American-Muslims just wanted to live in a Muslim land where they would not be given strange looks, where their wives could cover freely and be given their rights, where the kids could be inculcated into the culture of Islam, where if you die you will get a  proper Muslim burial [Note from Umm Adam: A major reason in my decision to not travel outside of the Muslim lands.  I have this fear of dying and not only not getting the virtues of dying as a  muhaajir but possibly being buried incorrectly wa authoo billahi min thaliq], where you don’t have to worry about food being haram, and where you hear the adhan 5 times a day, if brothers in Muslim countries only knew how badly your heart yearend for Dar al Islam then you would think they would be helping working-class Muslims resettle in Muslim lands for the sake of their children.

Yet, with very limited exceptions, there are normally not wide open arms at the other end welcoming the American brothers and sisters. Instead, we face bureaucratic and visa nightmares fro “Muslim” governments and hostility from Muslims in Muslim lands and often return home and are harassed by the fed’s because we are seeking to grow closer to Allah. As we go closer to Allah American law-enforcement will try to stand in between us and the One who created both of us; but as the old Christian saying goes “you demons get behind me”.

This is something that pains me and causes me to often stay up at night praying that Allah facilitate a way for all the Muslims who desire hijrah for His sake. This is also another reason I am so disturbed when I read the rants and raves of Muslims and non-Muslims who live in Saudi for reasons other than the sake of Allah. I have brothers and sisters in Islam – all over Allah’s vast world who would love to take their place and live in this land for the reasons that Umar pointed out. Then you have people here trying to rip the Islam out of here, people who hate that this is an Islamic societyand call for the Islam to be limited in both school and in the open, people who would love for Saudi to be secular, who mock Islam, and want the Muslims to be more progressive to the point that Islam is something vague. I get angry and frustrated that they have come to this land only to disparage it. It makes me sad that the Muslims must rely on non-Muslims to build and develope their country. It makes me sadder that the Muslims are not qualified to do this. It sickens me that people can come and live off of the wealth of this land and have such hatred for it in their hearts.

I think the essence was summed up good on a MuslimMatters.org Post about varying perspectives:

… there is no denying the problems & negative aspects of this country. Every single complaint they have is valid to varying degrees. There is increasing social immorality, lessening of (apparent) Islamic spirit, rising materialism, government policies amounting to discrimination, endless red tape, economic inflation & lack of structured support system for new immigrants.

The Muslim world is not perfect. Period. But the positives more than balance them out: Muslims are a majority (even if all of them may not be practicing); you hear the azaan fives times a day; you can never miss a prayer for a lack of masjid; hijabis & ‘beardies’ are a norm & do not stick out as on the street; halal food in all eateries & markets; easy access & wide choice for children’s secular & Islamic education; tax-free incomes; Islamic financing; personal safety & security etc.

Therefore, perhaps, if the attitude is right our lens will magnify all that is good, & coupled with the determination & strength to face what may come, it could be a win-win situation, inshaAllah. That Islam extols hijrah is not unknown.

When I was in America there were many things that I did not agree with. I never sat around pointing out every flaw or problem that I had. When I made the decision to make Hijrah, I didn’t give a laundry list of negative reasons why I didn’t want to remain in America. Rather, I simply said I am leaving for the sake of Allah and I named the positive reasons for doing so. When I speak of hopefully never returning to America, it is not with hatred for America that I speak, it is with love for doing what I think is pleasing to Allah. There was no reason for me to smear, degrade, or slight America…not when Allah says in The Noble Qur’an – An-Nisa 4:97-98

Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): “In what (condition) were you?” They reply: “We were weak and oppressed on earth.” They (angels) say: “Was not the earth of Allâh spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?” Such men will find their abode in Hell – What an evil destination!

Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way.

I made my intention for Hijrah, asked Allah for it, and got out of dodge. I often ask myself the same thing about those who live in Saudi but find it stifling and oppressive, “Was not the earth of Allâh spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?”

Leave! Get out! Be gone!

An American Woman Who Has Lived In Saudi For Over 30 years!

*Link Fixed

The Saudi Gazette featured a story written by an American woman whose family has resided in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years!

WE lived in Boston, USA in the worst possible neighborhood.
My husband was a law student at Northeastern University and we didn’t have much money. I was pregnant, living in a new city after having spent all my life in San Francisco, California.
As for my religion, I had given up Christianity and was searching for something else. This was some 36 years ago.

…

Read the rest here.

Pivotal Point:

About a month after we took the Shahadah, my husband decided that his Islam and his aspired profession were in conflict so we left Boston, returned to California and began a new chapter of life as Muslims, Alhamdulillah.

Older Post that Answer A lot of Questions I’ve Been Recently Asked

 How I Embraced Islam

 

My Hijrah Story

 

Reasons Why I Have No Intention To Return To The USA

Islam and Al Ain

I stumbled across a Muslim British Blogger in Al Ain  UAE. He presents a very interesting perspective on Islam and Al Ain. Enjoy!

After further reading of his blog, I have another link I really enjoyed his Soul Searching post. Actually, the whole blog is an excellent read, so check it out. I could relate to much of what he blogs.