Umm Ebraheem’s Weblog

Okay, today I made the decision to start studying for my certification in medical transcription from the organization formerly known as American Association of Medical Transcriptionists (I don’t like the new name).  I have been considering this for years and I finally decided that I am going to go ahead and do it.  The advancement might not materialize as much as many MTs would like, but it does have its advantages.  I have to start studying and saving my pennies because they of course charge obnoxious fees to sit for the exam and I am going to go ahead and invest in the study material so I will become familiar with the question formats.   I have decided to ditch the book club because the other members are not participating as much as I thought they would and it looks like there is just myself and one other member, and while I enjoy her company we can get together to discuss all kinds of things without it surrounding the book club and I can put my reading time into something that will benefit me in the long run, by the permission of Allah. 

Wa alaikum salaam

I received a comment on my post about my Arabic class and here is my response. 

We are studying from a curriculum developed by the instructor.  She is a trained teacher and has developed a very intense and structured class, al hamdulillah.  In this second book we cover body parts, question tools, masculine and feminine, pronouns, the house and items in the house, shopping in the market and food items, how to make words plural, specific and nonspecific words, modes of transportation and how to write stories.  She focuses not only reading but writing and comprehension.  There is really a lot going on in the class.  More than I can comment on.  There are vocabulary words after each lesson which often consists of reading a story that pertains to the lesson.   If you have a desire to learn Arabic she can teach you, inshaAllah.  We meet in a chat classroom on her website.  We send in our homework via scanner and email.  You can see her via web cam.  You will put in some work.  There are exams and midterms and pop quizzes.  I enjoy the class very much and I am getting a lot out of it.  Her focus is on Fusa and not the dialects that you hear around you in the masjid, but once you have mastered the Fusa it will be easier to transition to modern standard Arabic inshaAllah. 

For the sister who left me the nice comment if you have any more specific questions I will answer them for you.   I apologize it took so long to get back to you but I have been a busy lady these days. 

While I do enjoy getting comments on my blog I will not tolerate slander of any kind and I certainly won’t tolerate insults about myself.  If you don’t like your comments being deleted then don’t leave them.  I am not running a democracy and Muslim bin Abdullah being insulting is not how you endear people to you or in anyway convince them you are correct.  Basically you sound like a raving lunetic and until you have some proof for you slander keep it to yourself.  Or here is a better idea, get your own blog and say whatever you like.  As an American I appreciate the of freedom of speech and you to can have it, ON YOUR OWN BLOG. WordPress lets you have one for free you know.

Umm Ebraaheem

So, I am back in my Arabic class and I am feeling good about it.  I miss my former classmates, but my new classmate seems very nice.  I am in a program called Golden Arabic Pieces and I am retaking the second book.  I think the review will be good for me and God willing I won’t have to take another break and can just continue with the program.  I am taking steps to get more Arabic in my daily routine and to use my vocabulary words with my husband so that I can retain what I am learning.  The goal of course is to learn Arabic so that I will be able to increase my Islamic knowledge and my study of the Quran.

 I would like to work on my Spanish as well but there are only so many hours in the day.

I dropped the ball on my blog, but I am looking to get back in the swing of things.  I have been working on  a few things like being more active and getting exercise, heating healthy, and trying to quit junk food.  I have started back with my Arabic class and trying to be mor dilligent.  I am trying to work more steadily.  I can’t stay away from news about the current election cycle! and other general things around the house.  My brother’s wife had a baby last week and we are happy to announce the newest addition to the family is a healthy baby girl.  I have another niece or nephew on the way in May, as well.  Lots going on and I will try to find the time to talk about a few of these things in the coming weeks.

I am currently reading A Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford.  I think that my degree in US History makes me partial to these kinds of titles.  I  am fortunate to have found friends with similar interests and we have a small book club going.  I am enjoying all the back story that the author was able to put together.  This story starts before the subject was even born, so you get great historical references and a back story that makes you feel like you are taking a journey.

Synopsis

In 1807, an Irish ship’s surgeon recognized a slave at a Mississippi produce market as the son of an African king who had saved his life many years earlier. “The Prince,” as he had become known to local Natchez, Mississippi, residents, had been captured by warring tribesmen when he was 26 years old, sold to slavetraders, and shipped to America. An educated, aristocratic slave, Abd Rahman Ibrahima was made overseer of the large cotton and tobacco plantation of his master, who refused to sell him to the doctor for any price. After 25 years of petitioning, Dr. Cox finally gained Ibrahima his freedom, through the intercession of U.S. Secretary of State Henry Clay. Sixty-six-year-old Ibrahima sailed for Africa the following year, with his wife, two sons, and several grandchildren, and died there of fever just five months after his arrival. Prince Among Slaves is the first full account of Ibrahima’s life, pieced together from first-person accounts and historical documents. It is not only a remarkable story, but the story of a remarkable man, who endured the humiliation of slavery without ever losing his dignity or his hope for freedom.

I am in the process of getting my web sites together for my medical transcription business and medical transcription training program.  I have made a preliminary web site for my MT training program.  I will be adding to it and looking for a host in the next six months.  I am going to be doing some serious advertising in the next year.  I have not really promoted this program except for locally and word of mouth so I will see how it goes.  I am looking forward to expanding my business.

www.freewebs.com/fastandaccuratelines

TODAY IS THE 1ST OF MUHARRAM (the first month of the Islaamic Calendar).   

That which is recommended for the Muslim on the day of ‘Aashooraa.
*Please appropriately reference this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*
Question: What is obligatory upon the Muslim to do on the day of ‘Aashooraa.. (tenth day of Muharram), and is Zakaat al-Fitr obligatory (on that day)?

Response: It is legislated for the Muslim to fast on the day of ‘Aashooraa., for that which has been confirmed that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) ordered fasting on (the day of) ‘Aashooraa., however, when (the fasting of) Ramadhaan was obligated, whoever preferred to fast (‘Aashooraa.) did so and whoever preferred not to (do so) did not. And there is no Zakaat al-Fitr (to be paid) on the day of ‘Aashooraa. as there is on `Eedal-Fitr after the month of Ramadhaan.

And with Allaah lies all the success, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh ‘Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-’Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Volume 10, Page 400, Fatwa No.10962

from home…….  I can work all day or surf the net for up to the minute stories on election 08……  Medical Transcription is certainly not the job for someone with a short attention span. 

 On another note, while I was surfing instead of working Barack Obama spent the early afternoon at my Alma mater (The College of Charleston)giving a speech and being endorsed by John Kerry.

I am putting a link to an article that I read on the associated press about a diligent mom and her teenage son.  I applaud this mother because I believe if more mothers were as diligent as she there would be fewer gang banging 15-year-olds, meth addicted middle schoolers, heroine addicted teenagers and alcohol binging high school students.  I hope that someone will read this article and take a clue from this lady. 

In deference to the big copyright notice at the end of the article I am going to add the link instead of  copying the article.

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_fe_st/odd_car_ad;_ylt=AhYEhIRaALsrDqHOpshmOAwuQE4F

Umm Ebraaheem