Ramadhan 2020 in the midst of Covid-19

Muslims are unable to perform congregational prayers especially Terawih in this holy month. I am sure other religious practices such as Sunday Mass are equally prohibited for the time being. As for myself, I have been performing Terawih ever since I became a mother – so this is a norm for me. But lately, I banyak tersasar. The mental drain and physical lethargy gets overwhelming towards the evening. I tend to sleep early at night.

There is no Ramadhan bazaar. There are only online options which is a bit limited and risky as in you need to find a reliable seller that sells tasty food as opposed to newbies who just wants to test the water. I miss legit taufu fa and apam balik crispy. I miss ayam percik, nasi kerabu, laksam and nasi dagang. I can’t seem to find sellers that sell less spicy popia sira, kuih bongkol (at least that is how Sarawakians spell it) and delish air kathira.

I ordered online food for Iftar yesterday since I was Working From Home (WFH) from Jaykam Katering Enterprise. I couldn’t really order online on days I work because the runner/rider’s timing might not coincide with mine. I do not want to trouble them in case I don’t reach home on time. Unless they can deliver to the clinic before 5PM. I tried the menu from this seller because I was craving for asam pedas tetel and paru goreng. Ee wanted Laksa Penang as well. On top of that, I tried their Jus Delima (pomegranate juice). The food was very spicy for my Sarawakian taste buds. Even my Malaccan husband had difficulty to tolerate it because he has a low threshold too. I bought other dishes too and I spent RM44 from this seller alone including runner service fee.

I also bought desserts from another vendor but since the food is disappointing, it is best not to leave a review.

My firstborn Ee has managed to fast for one whole day which is an achievement. It has been a few years of ‘half-day’ that we think, as parents it is time to take it up a notch. Thankfully, due to COVID-19 he does not have to endure school in Ramadhan as it is closed. The hot weather and tight schedule might put him off. Yes, it may defeat the purpose of fasting but I’d like my kid to observe fasting as something fun and memorable as a child. Not of pain and punishing.

As for the little one, she has more vocabulary than ever and often copycat her brothers words. She will commence her daycare session probably this Friday with necessary measures, of course. I hope she will be OK.

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Ramadhan 2016 : Yes we can

Some people need their whole life to change for the better. Or a series of unfortunate events.However, some very lucky people need only one Ramadhan to turn a new leaf.

Embracing Ramadhan is like celebrating a new year. It provides opportunities for a person to be the best version of themselves. Including myself. Just like my previous Ramadhans, I have goals I intend to achieve in this holy month.My preparations are now at 70% and I hope that everything would be done by tomorrow.

Some of my goals include;

Reading the Quran more and upgrading the quality of my Solat

My little pink Quran has been void of love recently. Although I have been telling myself to at least read Surah Al-Kahfi every Friday or a Yassin at least, on a Thursday.. it rarely materialise. So yep – hoping for a more consistent reading habit this month.

Perhaps I can learn more about #quranjournalling. As how my counterparts are doing for #biblejournalling. 

I will definitely be missing out on Tarawih again at the musolla this year. I used to feel ‘inadequate’ by not going to the masjid to perform Tarawih. But later I learnt that Tarawih is better done at home for the ladies. Come to think of it, I couldn’t agree more.

I could solat in my own pace. Nak rehat sekejap in between the rakaat to drink air tebu? GO ahead. Need to breastfeed the little one? NO problem. If my memory serve me right, we ladies can even perform Tarawih in a sitting position if we are dead tired – bearing in mind this ruhksah is only for sunat prayers and that the pahala for this deed will be halved.

“Those with the greatest power must protect those without.”

Charity. I envy full time social activists who get to focus solely on ‘giving’ their effort and time to help the less fortunate. But lets not be dismayed. In my case, some people of the general public still believe that they appear to help people more if they are doctors or policemen. Whereas, there are many ways or avenues as to how one could help another member of the society.

It helps to also not compare the scale of your personal charity to others. Tak bolehlah nak compare dengan Islamic Relief, Telekung Project et cetera… settling hutang 555 at your own kedai runcit is charity, providing drinking water is charity, helping to clean an old lady’s house is also charity. In fact, any form of action done with ikhlas and ends with some sort of benefit to others – is to me charity.

 Learn to give  – be it in money, time or kind. And teach your children to do the same. 

Looking at my past ‘records of charity’ – I find that I tend to get involved in those that required funds. I can work with that. Although I don’t have a cash cow, I still have a few money generating activities up my sleeve.

Cook better

I couldn’t stress this enough. I was looking at my work roster this month and I couldn’t help chuckling at my shift arrangement. Nih nak suro aku pandai masak ke apa.. byk syif pagi. Muekekeke. I cleared my pantry of expired items, cleaned the fridge, scrubbed the stove, stocked on spices and even rearranged my table tops. And now I am planning menus.

I was telling a few friends last month that if I am successful in making kuah kacang, I would invite them to my house for Raya meals. On second thought, perhaps I should be oncall during Eid. Hehehe..

Finally, try to enjoy Ramadhan. You would enjoy being an angel for the whole month. Insya-Allah.

Credits : Google Image