I’m craving structure and simplicity in my life, and I’m craving it and striving toward it so that I can busy myself with the more important things in life. The things that give our lives real meaning and real purpose. I think a looming hijrah has forced me to focus my attention on my eeman and ways in which I can bolster it, and keep it healthy enough for all the turmoil that lies ahead.

The tajweed lessons are helping, that in itself has required me to look at my mushaf in a new light and has made me realise just how little I understood about the language of the qur’an and the importance of knowing how to read it well. And I’ve begun to re-evaluate my life and look a bit more closely at the things that need changing. The past couple of years especially have been a challenge for me and mine and I think for the most part I’ve avoided doing anything other than dealing with the problems that we had at hand, mainly because they were so big and life changing in and of themselves, but now I have a need to take on some fresh challenges of my own choosing insha’allah. I’ve got seven months or so before we leave for Algeria and i’m determined to make them as productive as I possibly can in terms of my deen. My eeman took a real battering last time we went to DZ so I’m aware of a very real need to nourish and look after it before I leave this time round.

Anyway I have to make a dash for it now because the childrens lesson is coming to a close and then I’m heading upstairs for mine insha’allah…I’ve had a bit of trouble this week remembering the rule for meem sakinah, which is a bit worrying cos it’s the easiest rule apart from Iqlaab that I’ve learnt so far…probably having a brain fog inducing hormonal upsurge or summat!!!