I had a friend who came by every few days after I had my son. She didn’t ask if I needed anything she just folded laundry, washed dishes and roamed my fridge and cooked meals. I was too tired and thrown off from having a baby to do my usual, “no, sit down, I’ve got that.” It was the best gift I ever received Alhamdulillah.
That’s pretty much how I was before 😅 I should add though, she was a trained doula. I knew nothing about that but after that experience I became a trained doula as well and now volunteer whenever I’m able.
The suhba (companionship) you reference is an integral piece of living prophetically that is really missing in current Muslim American society. My hypothesis is that the American sense of individualism and ingrained focus on our careers under the false pretenses of supporting the nuclear family are obstacles that we need to overcome. To progress forward in a way that truly reflects the love that the Prophet ﷺ set in Medina, I think we have a lot of communal and self work to do. Thanks for the piece Sadia; as always, humorous and inspiring.
I had a friend who came by every few days after I had my son. She didn’t ask if I needed anything she just folded laundry, washed dishes and roamed my fridge and cooked meals. I was too tired and thrown off from having a baby to do my usual, “no, sit down, I’ve got that.” It was the best gift I ever received Alhamdulillah.
What an incredible friend, who shows up and you don’t have to ask. I remember my friend Aqsa did that for me too.
I’ve been paying it forward as much as I can since then.
I think that’s what this reflection teaches me. I can’t be the town hermit anymore especially after all this goodness from neighbors- friends
That’s pretty much how I was before 😅 I should add though, she was a trained doula. I knew nothing about that but after that experience I became a trained doula as well and now volunteer whenever I’m able.
The suhba (companionship) you reference is an integral piece of living prophetically that is really missing in current Muslim American society. My hypothesis is that the American sense of individualism and ingrained focus on our careers under the false pretenses of supporting the nuclear family are obstacles that we need to overcome. To progress forward in a way that truly reflects the love that the Prophet ﷺ set in Medina, I think we have a lot of communal and self work to do. Thanks for the piece Sadia; as always, humorous and inspiring.
Thank you. I need to incorporate your comment into the essay itself! So well articulated !!