Welcome to muslim tea room 2.

[defuse]

Peace to you all

Ok, well here it is again...we have moved to room 2 now

Discuss whatever aspect of islam you like my lovely sisters - this is a place for muslims and non-muslims too, to share experiences, raising kids or just having your say!

The kettle is on.... We have loads of herbal teas, coffee and guava juice .... I like guava juice so welcome!

Did anyone see what Elusive said?

Billy are you referring to what she said about itikaaf? Yes I said that there's no way I'll be able to do it this year unfortunately owing to the dc.

All this talk of food is making me hungry! Last year I did all fried food every day, I'll do it maybe once a week this year. I didn't eat that much last year but I maintained my weight, I think the fried foods added a couple of thousand calories on!

I too have read that you can brush your teeth as long as you don't swallow. I used to just clean at fajr but this year I'm going to clean as normal in the morning.

Crescent I received that today on my whatsapp. I'm part of a group of sisters (only about 6 of us) and we read Quran everyday, share Hadith and ask each other questions. One of the sisters sent that today and it was a nice read. Really makes you stop and think.

This made me laugh

Ramadan Mubarak!

How was everyone's first day? I didn't feel hungry or thirsty but I had a terrible headache from about 1pm, I went to bed for a couple of hours amd then again for a couple of hours before iftar when at my in laws house, which was embarrassing for DH as I didnt help with the cooking. I couldnt even eat at iftar, I felt so sick. I had a glass of water and paracetamol. And praying was a killer on my head. I'm trying to stay awake to drink 2 L of water but I'm very tired and not sure I can, I have managed 700 mls so far but still feel sick! Sorry to moan. My DH was really cross with me as I couldnt even look after Ds 3 (14 mo) as the crying hurt my head.

If I get a headache tomorrow can I break the fast? I can't see how I'll look after 3 DC on my own tomorrow if I feel poorly like that.

What did i say? What did i do?????????

Already behind with reading Quran. Spent too long on cookathon, but DCs loved it, so well worth the effort. Now more effort needed reading Quran.

Ramadan Mubarak

PScrescent sis, you mean to say 'welcome to the muslim tea room' dontcha, as opposed to defuse's tea room! Who is this defuse anyway! she never posts anymore!

what did you say elusive?! I must start calling you that now and not defuse.

It's lovely weather here today. MrsOom, I'm sorry you found it so hard yesterday. I hope you find today easier. I too have a 14 month old ds, they are relentless at this age and non stop on the move, so I can understand how you feel on that front. But your dh shouldn't be making you feel bad about it, and definitely shouldn't be getting cross because you were feeling so poorly. May Allah grant you ease today sis.

Tulip I love that picture, so typical.

Crescent thanks for the link, I made my calendar and I'm so flipping disappointed with it. It took me hours to make and was really fiddly and has ended up looking like dd2 made it. The kids like it though, I did want to save it and use it every year as tradition, but this will barely last the month! 4 hours of my life I'll never get back.

A cheerful MN thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2121245-Our-Muslim-neighbours-are?pg=1&order=

Hello I'm popping in here my dp became a revert to Islam last month and he is doing his first fast , any tips on preparing meals etc as I'm a non Muslim and this is a whole new experience for me

Hi autumns! I'm a non Muslim too, my situation is unusual in that XH and I split a few years ago but we remain v amicable and spend a lot of time together. I also started fasting for ramadan around the time we split, not due to religious beliefs but just to experience it and be part of the communal experience. I enjoyed it so I continued it and we usually spend most Iftar meals together. Saying that I don't cook for him as such because he eats meat and I don't. I make Harira (Moroccan soup, traditional to break the fast) but a veggie version which goes down well. It contains chick peas so good for protein. I make salad and bread and cheese, he likes fresh juice or smoothie and omelettes. I usually set the table and prepare the salad and juice, he makes some omelette and we eat together then. Oh he also likes dates, again traditional although I'm not fussed.
Basically I have discovered the best thing is to keep the meal fairly light but high in protein. If you eat too much at once you feel terrible so no huge plates of curry! Tempting as it is. I also make a pot of decaf tea and drink it all! As well as gallons of water.

Thank you for that I've said I will try and fast for a day to experience it

Hi autumn and ehric. Wow what a big change autumn, it's nice that you're supporting him.
I think ehric got it spot on with light and high in protein, as it's easy to get heartburn when you eat so close to sleeping, which is inevitable in these long days. I also make harira or some other soup, normally containing lentils or chickpeas, or a salad with some samosas or something. We have another meal later after praying the tarawih prayer (special night prayers in ramadan), which is a smaller version of a normal meal such as curry and rice, or pasta bake. And always a huge salad! I work my way through a pot of coffee throughout the night, but I wouldn't advise that!
I also find it useful to stick to making things which can easily go in the fridge for a night, or be frozen, as often we are not able to eat as much as we think we might as the fasting shrinks your stomach.
When I reverted ramadan was in the winter so the days were very short, it's tough on your husband that his first ramadan is in the summer, may Allah make it easy for him.

Thank you all so much for your kind words , he's done really well although I know it's early in the month

oo sisters please share your harira soup recipes! I tried a lamb and chickpea with green lentils version recipe in the slow cooker, it's nice but tastes like, well, a runny lamb stew with no carbs [grin

I'm all ready to sleep now and the baby has just started babbling in his cot!

MrsOom, I just came up getting ready to pray fajr and my baby has just woken up too. So you're not alone!

Crescent I was famished yesterday as well and all I've managed just now is a big bottle of water and an apple. I'm finding cooking in the morning to be a godsend, after the dc are in bed I go up too and sleep until about 9 when I do the last minute bits for iftar. Definitely the way forward for me.

Your neighbours sound lovely, Subhanallah. I live in a cul de sac of 4 houses, of which 3 of them are Muslims and there's been no food sharing here. Odd seeing as we all get on so well and the kids are always out the front together. Maybe tomorrow I'll send them something inshallah.

That thread is lovely, well I'm assuming it hasn't gone the wrong the way as they all do cause the last I read it was when littleducks put it up.

How is everyone's Quran reading going. Alhamdullilah I'm up to date and on track for finishing it by the end of the month.

Salaam my lovely ladies!!!!!!

Hope you are all well.

Sleep deprivation is going to go hand in hand with those with little babies/school run/work and this Ramadan. On the upside, the most wonderful thing (amongst many) about this ramadan is that by the time you finish your isha/tarawih and quran juz, it is tahajjud time with barely an hour before fajr. This means that it will be so much easier to reap the benefits of laylatul-qadr. Instead of spending all night awake (as during winter), just 2-3 hours of worship and inshallah, inshallah, inshallah we are onto a winner.

May Allah accept our efforts and forgive us our sins.

lost sis, call me whatever you like. I still try logging on as defuse until realisation dawns! cres sis, love your gentle reminders to post
Must try harder.

Someone please post a lovely vegetarian easy dish recipe. I have too much meat in my diet!

Vegetarian Harira -
Fry onion and garlic. Add vegetable stock, cumin, paprika, ginger, salt and pepper. Add tomato purée (plenty). Tin of chickpeas and some of those little chopped up spaghettini you can buy in halal shops especially for Harira. At the end add lemon wedges and coriander.
Cook for a while, hope for the best!
Don't put fresh tomatoes in, though lots of recipes suggest it. Just veggie stock and lots of tomato purée. That's how MIL does it anyway and it has a richer flavour. You want the texture of the broth to be smooth and slightly thick, some people use corn flour to thicken but I don't. You can also stir an egg in at the end which is quite nice. You don't want too much liquid, lots of chick peas and pasta.

Yes there should be a but in there! Less liquid, plenty of chick peas and pasta. Just crack the egg in at the end and stir quickly, it cooks instantly. It's lovely.