Monthly Archives:' August 2013
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 10: Chocolate Word Card
I LOVE this chocolatey thoughtful gift! Check it out for yourself… 🙂
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 9: Make Your Own Mosque Gift Bag
Make your own mosque gift bag – then fill it with sweets or whatever takes your fancy 🙂
Check it out on: http://www.karimascrafts.com/2013/07/mosque-gift-bag-template-30-days-of.html
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 8: One for the Seniors
This year the kids reached out to the seniors of our community as part of their 30 Day Good Deed Challenge in Ramadan (http://husaynzainab.blogspot.co.uk/).
Nothing major – just some chocolates in a pretty bag with a tag, but the aunties and uncles Alhamd loved it and the kids got a lot of hugs in return!
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 7: Doughnut Teacher Pun
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 6: Oreo Mud Pie
And how about gifts for the teachers?
Check out this pot of mud-pie (think oreo!) with a caption – “Thank you for helping me grow.” This is a very delicious gift indeed 🙂
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 5: Cereal
Check out this super-cute gift that was given to all the children in the class! Speaks for itself me thinks 🙂
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 4: Personalised Key Ring with a Dua
You know those personalised cups/magnets/bookmarks/towels (and now coke cans!) that we now don’t even bother looking at because they will have English names (unless we have the name Sarah or something similar!)…
Well, Dua Cards are providing an excellent alternative! Check out this personalised keyring that I got 🙂
I LOVE personalised stuff – and personalised stuff that is useful – the keychain has a dua for safety on the other side – well, it just doesn’t get better than that 🙂
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 3: Magnet and Story
So I look forward to receiving a gift from this person EVERY YEAR because it is always so thoughtful and we learn from it as well…
Check it out – it’s just a small smile magnet, but it accompanies a story and a powerful lesson behind it – the power of a smile and the fact that happiness is a consequence of giving.
The stories and mementos have varied every year but the concept is the same – a little something to hang up on the bulletin board or stick up on the fridge, along with a big something to learn through a poem/story/fable to stay with you forever!
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 2: Pot of sweets
This lovely colourful pot of sweets came with a special tag which read:
“You can’t have the rainbow with out the rain…
We pray that the struggles of this month give you a year full of rainbows!”
It also came with a special mirror designed to inspire the remembrance of Allah from Dhikr Gifts 🙂
Thoughtful Gift Ideas 1: Water with Duas/Honey
Hope everyone had a lovely Eid inshallah! I thought I would share some of the gifts that we got that were so thoughtful!
There is something very special when someone puts in the extra effort for a gift. In fact, Islam places a lot of significance on gifts… the Prophet (SAW) has said: “Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love to one another.”
Near the end of Ramadhan, I received an e-mail from Zakira Ummulbanin Merali (QFatima) and with her kind permission, thought I would share it with you all, before sharing some thoughtful gift ideas for this year.
‘Gift giving is more than just the thought. It’s the thought, the gift, the intention – the whole package. The best gifts are ones that directly think of the recipient. Gifts shouldn’t be given out of obligation but from the heart especially for those you love.
The greatest gifts are those that leave an indelible mark on the soul – They require a thought process – I call it emotional intelligence.
BUT… What do you give? The traditional ‘plate’ of sweetmeats is safe… But then is it just an easy option? Is it healthy?
Do you put thought into each person you give a gift to or do you just give cash?
What do you do with those unwanted presents? Do you recycle them? Is it rude?
Do you cherish gifts? What about the handmade gift made by a child?
These are some of my favourites from children from whom I learn and whose memories I will take to my grave:
1. A note from a 7 year old which says “I could not decide what to get you for Eid – I wanted it to be different but I couldn’t find anything. Then I read 100x ‘Ilahiy kayfa ad’uka…”
2. A notebook with a note on the inside front “There is not a single qunoot in which I don’t pray for your long life and happiness…”
3. A framed picture of the aya of Qur’an ‘ Rabb build for me a house with You in Janna…”
4. A carefully painted picture of a street in Janna with the childs house and an arrow to the house next door saying – Ummi Aunty’s house…”
So here’s a suggestion: Let’s take this opportunity to do something for each other this Eid……. Make a list of all those who have touched your heart and on Eid night which is an awesome night, you could pray Salatul Layl (Namaz Shab) and remember each person by name in Salatul Witr). I cannot think of a better Eid gift…’
So here’s one to start this series off! Check out this awesome gift 🙂 All it is is two bottles of water and a small pot of honey, but they are oh-so-special…
Along with the honey is a little note about what the Prophet has said about the benefits of honey, the larger bottle of water has been lovingly recited Jawshane-Kabeer on with an explanation about this powerful dua, and the other bottle has the benefits of Sura Al-Hamd on it…
Doesn’t get more meaningful and personal than this!
