Etiquettes of visiting the sick

Once in the peaceful village of Harmonyville, there lived a cheerful boy named Timmy. Timmy had a special gift – a magical balloon that changed colors with his emotions. Whenever he was happy, the balloon glowed with vibrant hues. However, when Timmy got angry, the balloon turned fiery red.
One day, Timmy’s friends invited him to play in the meadow. Excitement filled the air as they played games and laughed together. Suddenly, a disagreement arose over which game to play next. Timmy’s magical balloon started turning red as anger consumed him.
Timmy remembered his wise grandmother’s advice: “When anger rises, take a deep breath and count to three.” He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and counted to three. Slowly, the fiery red balloon began to transform into calming blue shades.
With a smile, Timmy suggested a compromise, and soon laughter echoed through the meadow again. His friends were amazed at how Timmy controlled his anger. From that day on, whenever a disagreement occurred, Timmy took a deep breath, counted to three, and the magic of his balloon helped everyone find a solution peacefully.
The moral of the story is that anger can be tamed with patience and a calm mind. It’s important to take a moment to breathe and think before reacting, just like Timmy and his magical balloon in the village of Harmonyville.

Etiquettes of visiting the sick

When was the last time you visited your relatives or friends when they were sick? Did you keep in mind the etiquettes? Let’s have a look at them:
1) Our intention for visiting the sick should be:
• To please Allah
• Act upon a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.
• Gain the dua of the sick person
• Make our brother/sister feel happy.
2) Seeking permission: Before entering the room or home of the sick person, it is important to seek permission. Ask for permission and choose an appropriate time to visit. Avoid visiting during the rest hours or when the patient needs privacy or rest.
3) Short visits: Keep the visit short and sweet. The sick person may not have the energy for long conversations, and it’s essential to respect their need for rest.
4) Make sincere prayers for the well-being and recovery of the sick person. It is a good practice to recite supplications (dua) for their health. Recite this dua 7 times:

أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ

Ibn ‘Abbas RA said, “When the Prophet PBUH would visit a sick person, he would sit by his head and then say seven times, ‘I ask Allah the Immense, the Lord of the Immense Throne, to cure you.’ If the time of the invalid had not yet come, he would be cured of his pain.”
5) Request them to make dua for you, reminding them that their duas are accepted.
6) Keep the conversation positive and uplifting. Avoid discussing negative or distressing topics that might affect the patient’s mood. Bring a cheerful and positive attitude. Offer words of comfort and support, and listen attentively if the sick person wishes to talk.
Remember that the primary goal of visiting the sick in Islam is to show compassion, offer support, and pray for their recovery. Always approach such visits with genuine care and empathy.

Time for some Craft! Let’s make Popsicle stick wall décor!

Materials needed:
Popsicle sticks, craft paint in various colours paint brushes, hot glue gun and glue sticks, cardboard or foam board, string or wire (optional for hanging), decorative items like beads, sequins, or buttons (optional)
Steps for making wall décor:
Paint the sticks: Add your favoured paint to all the sticks if need be. For a more natural look, you may skip out on the paint.
Create the base: Start laying out the base of your work. The structure should be mergeable and well connected for wall decor hanging.
Layer for Sturdiness: layer the sticks one on top of the other to provide a sturdier and non-fragile structure.
Add decor: Add a bit of sparkle, beads or decorate how you wish to.
Build wall decor: Add a base of cardboard or foam to the base to create a wall-hanging
Reinforce: Glue it all together. Ensure that everything stays together and is fixed tight.
Hang it Up: After the glue dries up. Hang your finished popsicle wall hanging to any desired location of your walls.