Hot and Cold

Salaams to all. Changed the look fo the blog for the New Year. Complain if you want but I will only change it next year again insha allah.

The weather has decided to reverse itself...we have had blistering hot humid days followed by cold wet days. Hope everyone is well where ever they are.

Muhammad's birthday is next week on the 30th. Now I know what it means when parents say that their children have grown so fast. It seems a life time away that he arrived into our lives alhumdulillah. Please make dua that he continues to grow and be healthy insha allah.

Aslam

Congratulations

Congrats to Ashraf on the birth of his third child, a baby girl. Far way off from the chap who never wanted any children at all. Hope that all is well and that the new addition will bring lots of joy and I am sure sleepless nights.

All well in Joberg. Qasim moved into a house in our area...just down the road. Talk about the area going to the dogs.

The year is almost over and it is had to see where it went...

Salaams to all.

Asad

New Arrival

We would like to congratulate Ashraf & Khatija, the proud parents of a healthy masha'allah baby girl. Both mother & baby are well. May she grow up to be the coolness of their eyes, ameen. We wish we were there to share in their joy right now.

Suleman, Tasnim & Family

Hajj 2006

Assalaam mu alikum

This is to inform you all that Yumna and I will be undertaking the journey of Hajj, Inshallah, this year. We will depart on 3^rd December 2005 and return after 6 weeks on 14^th January 2006.

We would like to take this opportunity to ask Maaf from all of you. Please make us Maaf if we have said or done anything that may have upset or hurt you in anyway. Also, please make us Maaf if we DID NOT say or do anything which we were supposed to, and in turn upset you.

Make duaa that the trip goes as planned and that Allah Ta’aala takes us and returns us safely. Most importantly, make duaa that our HAJJ is accepted in the eyes of Allah.

Please forward us your “shopping lists” of duaas that you require, as we will have ample “money” in the form of time to remember all of you, Inshallah.

Farid

P.S If we have not had the opportunity to visit any of you before we depart, its not because we didn’t want to, its just that time was a factor. We hope to meet all of you when we return.

Back at work!

Salaams to all

I'm back at work after being on maternity leave for the last 6 months. I'm not sure whether to be depressed or to enjoy the fact that I don't have to change any nappies for the whole day!!!! Seriously though all you working mothers out there know how hard it is to leave your baby with strangers....please make dua that Aaliyah adjusts quickly. Both Qaylah and Aaliyah are fine, I just can't believe that they grow so quickly!! Qaylah is quite a madam with a mouth of an 18 year old! Riyaad says she gets it from her mother.....not sure if I agree!

I saw the episode of a word or 2 when Feroz made his TV debut - he was looking particularly handsome and I am sure he will gets lots of proposals! On the subject of proposals Naseem hasn't blogged for a while - must be because he is spending all his free time talking to his soon to be fiancé! Yep - for those that haven't heard Naseem is proposed and set to be married next year May. Congratulations and remember to post this engagements pics on this website.

Luv

Zaynab

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