Back from Pakistan

Salaams to all,

I arrived back from Pakistan on Thursday, the 20th of October, Alhamdulillah. The earthquake and it's nightmare will continue to impact on the people of Kashmir and it's surroundings for decades to come. It seems that the death toll will approach 250 000 while millions are homeless. Hundreds of thousands have been orphaned and disabled and the most affected are the poorest of the poor. What struck us outsiders the most, was the iman shown by these most unfortunate of people. Their hearts are pure gold, for while they posessed very little in material objects, they offered us everything. May Allah give them His blessings for they are indeed of the patient ones.

The experience has been incredible for me and I would not be able to do any justice in relating them. The child who was able to smile even though he was the only survivor from his entire school or village, the patience shown by the father who was told that his only daughter had passed away in hospital, the repeated words muttered by a woman "the mountain came down to us" before an operation to amputate her leg, the eyes of the brother who looked at his only surviving family, his sister while she battled to stay allive in ICU, the insistant taxi driver who refused to take money from us because we had come to help his people, the tired pakistani doctors who worked without sleep until they collapsed with exhaustion are only some of the images that will forever reamain with us. May Allah grant the deceased Jannat and make it easy for those that have survived.

All well back home and it is great to be back. the fasting is going alright. Ashraf seems to be missing the South African taraweeh. Hang in there. How is the new job?

Make dua and salaams to all.

Asad

Ramadhaan In Australia

Salaams to all,

Our first Ramadhaan in Perth is going very well so far. We have been blessed with good weather and now that I'm working, the day goes pretty fast. Tharawee salaah is a bit long though because the Hafez doesn't recite the Quran as fast as they do in SA. A local S.African Moulana and his brother-in-law from Lenasia (Moulana Shabeer Moosa) perform the tharawee salaah daily. Tharawee salaah takes place at other Musjids and Mussallahs (as the locals call a JK) but not all of them recite Quran. Some only read surah's. The Musjid in Thornlie (the one we go to) is usually full for esha and tharawee but most of the Arab and Turkish guys read only eight rakaats. All the Musjids have ladies accommodation as well...................so it's like a family outing sometimes but the Imams often ask parents to watch over their kids as the kids really cause a disturbance at times. Overall, the experience is good but we know we will miss home on Eid day. Suleman and Fam are leaving for SA this Thursday so we will have Eid with Ebrahim & fam..........might attend the South African get together later in the afternoon.

Khatija is well and missed three fasts so far. The kids are ok and can't wait for their brother or sister in December. Make duah all goes well. Farid, I've received one mail from you and replied as well.............I don't think the MTN IS guys accept mail from a Yahoo account because other MTN people don't receive my mail. I'll try again to mail you. Hope all goes well with your prep for Hajj. I'm sure Yunus will give you some advice. Next month it will be a year for us in Perth.............time is really flying. Still waiting to hear from Farhana and Naseem wrt their trip. Hope all went well with As'ad's trip and he arrives safely today. Make duah for Ismail Mota from Tongaat....heard he had a stroke last Monday, for Nali Kala Jeebhai who is not well and for all the muslims at large.

Assalaamu Alaikum,

Ashraf

Earthquake

Salaams to all,

The tragedy of the earthquake in Pakistan unfolds in this blessed month of Ramadaan and all our thoughts are with those millions of people affected by the disaster. Please remember these people in your duas and may the mercy of Allah descend on the them. May they be of the patient ones.

I will be accompanying, insha-allah, a rescue and medical team to Pakisatn today to try to be of assisstance to those who require medical treatment. Please make dua that the mission is of benefit to the most affected. We will return on Sunday, isha-allah.

All well by the grace and blessings of Allah.

As salaam u alaikum.

Asad

Hajj

Salaams again,

Inshallah, Yumna and I are going for Hajj this year. Mummy will be joining us as well. If everything comes through we will depart on December 3^rd and return on 14^th January. A whole 6 weeks away from work J

Make duaa that everything will be in order and that we do eventually go for 6 weeks, and not less.

As’ad, inshallah you will go and return safely as well. May Allah reward you for your efforts and may your family be rewarded just as much for allowing you to go on such short notice.

Ashraf, tried e-mailing you on your yahoo.com account but not sure if it ever went through.

Salaams to all at home.. 6 down J

Farid, Yumna and Farihah Asmal

Ramadaan Mubarak

Salaams to all. Ramadaan is now in full swing, very hot in Jhb. A real tragedy in Pakistan during this blessed month, remember them in all of our duas. As'ad will be joining the Gift of the Givers on their trip to Pakistan, Insha-Alaah leaving tomorrow night. May Allah grant all thosegoing to help the strength and ability to do their best.

Yusuf is almost 3 months now and becoming a handful... Life is so much better with him around! Cant imagine life without him. Is anyone planning on Hajj this year? Last year Yunus had quite an experience, even before he left for Saudi.

Ashraf, how was the Nando's while on your holiday? You didnt have it every day, DID YOU?

Salaams to all

Qasim and Family

2 Down....

Salaams and Ramadaan Mubarak to all,

Already 2 fasts have come and gone. This month is going to be over before we know it. Lets maximize our efforts and duaas.

Ramadaan in Witbank is always nice. Especially Friday and Saturday nights, when the braai stands are lit and the action cricket gets underway in the tennis courts. Usually lasts till Sehri if the weather is good.

Farihah is growing up too quick and will be 2 in November, how time flies.. Yumna is fine as well, Alhamdulillah.

Naseem and Farhana, cant wait to hear of the experience in Palestine, especially at Al-Aqsa.

Please remember us in your duaas.

Farid

Ramadaan Mubarak

Salaams to all,

Ramadaan is here and the first fast was tough. Insha-Allah the month is filled with blessing and duas.

All well in Joburg. Same old...same old. Nice to hear from Ashraf and Farid. How is Ramadaan over there, in such strange and foreign a place? Farid you answer first. Ashraf must be missing the Ramadaan life of Durban and Stanger and the family. And the braai after tarahwee, especially...

Sumaiya, Ibrahim and Issa are well. Issa, Yusuf and Alia are growing up so fast, I can't keep up. Not much else new.

Naseem and Farhana are back from their trip to the middle east and hopefully will blog soon on their experiences.

Salaams and remember us in your duas in this auspicious month.

Asad

Salaams from Witbank

Salaams to all,

Hope this mail works, as the rest never got published on the blog.

Always nice to hear from Ashraf about his Outback adventures. Seems like you enjoying it Down Under. Its true that Firoze was on “ A Word or Two “ but he never bothered informing us about his TV Debut. He didn’t even record the show… probably because he was beaten by an old lady J.

Still waiting for the mail to circulate re contact numbers and e-mail addresses. Aslam ???

Take care and give salaams to all.

Farid Asmal

Update From Perth

The blog has been quiet for a while now.  Not sure whether others have also been having difficulty posting their messages.  We are well and much more settled now.  If all goes well, Khatija should have the baby at the end of Dec.....I'm hoping for the 22nd.  Azhar and As'ad want a sister.  The last few months were pretty hectic for me.  I've been working underground at a Nickle mine in the outback flying back and forth from Perth frequently.  Enjoyed the experience though.  It was good to have Ebrahim and Suleman on the same project.  We leave for a holiday on the Gold Coast tomorrow and will give you guys more details when we are back. It's a 5hr flight from Perth...another 4hrs and we can be in JHB!!  I'm looking foward to having Nando's daily whilst I'm there.  I will be starting a permanent job on Oct 05th depending on whether the police clearance will be done in time.  I don't mind having a break in Ramadhaan before I start in the new job.  The company is called Air Services Australia and is based at the airport.  I will be maintaining the electrical, radio, radar and satellite equipment for air traffic control. 

 

Hope to read other messages from the rest of the family soon.

Ashraf. 

---

Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Quiet again...

How is everyone? Well insha allah. Just a reminder to use the blog...its a good way to send a message to a whole lot of people at once.

My mother phoned the other day to say that Feroz was on TV...on the gameshow "A word or 2". Unfortunately I was not near a TV but apparently he did quite well...what next? "The Weakest Link".

Alhumdulillah Muhammad is growing so nicely. He makes us smile all the time and also wish that we had a child sooner. I am sure that all of you with children know what I am talking about.

Ashraf, how do I get hold of the guy who sells the biltong maker. I was eating some biltong today and remembered your contraption. Have you converted the locals to biltong yet or is it only the ex-South Africans who bug you for biltong?

Salaams to all,
Aslam

Salaams

How is everyone? Once again quiet on the blog. Alhumdulillah we are all well. Drove up to Joburg 2 week-ends ago to see Zaynab and her new baby, Aliyah. She is so marsha allah. So small and fragile. When I look at my Muhammad it is hard to imagine he was like that as well. Zaynab has recovered well alhumdulillah.

Hope everyone is well.

Aslam

Tadpole? What tadpole?

Has anyone who has made any comments about the size of the trout that I caught ever caught a trout half that size? No further comments please unless you can show me a fish...

Aslam

Congrats

Salaams to all,

Well done, Ashraf...learning to cook and be domesticated. Wonders never cease...cutting the grass too. I must really consider moving to Australia. Congrats on the soon to be new arrival too, insha-allah.
Due in November which will be a year over there in Oz and already an addition. Must have lost the pills in all the moving, I am sure.
All well over here. Still a lot of the same, busy with all the flus and joys of winter in Joburg. Zaynab' little one is so cute. Settling in at home, both mom and daughter.
Sumaiya, Ibrahim and Issa are well.
Fly fishing for tadpoles...that's new.
Salaams
Asad

Congrats to all

Salaams to all,

Congrats to Ashraf & Katy on the news of the expectant Ozzie, and to Zaynab & Riyaad on the birth of their little one. May Allah grant her a long and pious life.

Ashraf seems like you working quite hard there. Making up for all the times you loafed around in MTN ? Were you planting or removing the weeds ? Witbank is starting to get quite cold so a visit to Durbs is now becoming a must.

Aslam, is that the fish you caught or was it someone else bait ?? Even YOUR hands aren’t that big…

Take care and give salaams to all

Farid Asmal

And grows even more...

Asalaamu alaykum,

Since our sms news broadcaster has relocated to Australia, I will have to let everyone know. Alhumdulillah, Zaynab and Riyaad were blessed with the arrival of their second daughter this evening. Baby weighed 2.5kgs and is doing well. Alhumdulillah so is Zaynab. Please make dua for the baby.

Aslam

An Ozzie Chohan!

Thats a first. Alhumdulillah that is good news. Insha allah the morning sickness will pass and the rest of the pregnancy will go well. Serves you right Ashraf...housework and gardening is the least you can do for agreeing with my family. Besides my big hands make the fish look small.

Aslam & Saaleha & Muhammad

Poor Fish,

I managed to see the pic now ---- u r a MURDERER, that fish was meant to be returned to the water immediately. I afraid I have to agree with the rest of the family.

Ashraf

..........and the family grows!

Asalaamu-Alaikum,

It's been a while since we blogged but atleast Aslam keeps the website alive. The past couple of weeks have been hectic. Moved into my house, helped Ebrahim to move into his house and was busy with final exams. Exams are now over -- I now have an electrical licence to work anywhere in Australia. I'm still studying part time though, busy completing a diploma in electrical drafting. The kids are settled ....................talking about kids, another is on the way. Yes, I'm going to be a father again. Katy is well but having a miserable time with morning sickness. I'm the maid, cook, gardener, nannny etc. Come on doctors, can you guys give her something that will get her up on her feet again and SAVE me!! It's not too bad though. I'm enjoying the kitchen, she is teaching me how to cook at present. I also mowed the lawn last Sunday (first time in 31 years....and also got on my knees and removed weeds...........i thought South Africans only smoked weed) and I touched the washing machine. She also misses her parents that were here with us for three months. If all goes well the baby will be due around November....(i think). Aslam, I cannot comment on the fish since I cannot access the pic........e-mail to me pls. I spoke to Qasim Sader last week, all of them are well in the UK. Shuaib and family will be visiting SA soon........after almost 4 years, he must be excited. Hope to hear from all you guys soon.

Ashraf & Khatija

The one that didn't get away

Salaams,.

It has been very quite on the blog...where has everyone gone?

Just came back from a weekend at the Drakensberg Sun. Managed to do some fly-fishing. Lost a huge trout on Saturday but managed to get this one on Sunday. My family have made some rude comments about its size so I looking for more favourable opinions on its size.

Alhumdulillah we are all well. Our Muhammad is 4 months old and growing masha allah. I have joined Haroon Patel and his partners in private practice in Durban as of the 1st June, and insha allah, this will go well. At least I dont travel to Pietermaritzburg any more.

Aslam

Cape Town Revisited

Saaleha, Muhammad and myself went to Cape Town over this last weekend. It was his first trip in an plane but he slept through it beautifully. It was nice to go back and see work colleagues and friends. The visit was too short. Insha-allah we want to go back and see everyone again.

Zahedah is still in Europe on her Contiki Tour. My mother flew out yesterday. She will spend a few days with Essop-mota in Bolton before joining Zahedah in London. The lives of the young and the not-so-young....

It has been quiet on the blog. Has everyone stopped reading it? Come on, we need more posts.

Salaams,
Aslam