Tag: family

Teaching

Enrolments are open for KL Kuttāb!

Raidah Shah Idil

If you’re looking for a supportive, warm and holistic English-medium weekend madrasah in KL, look no further – please click here to enrol your child the first term of KL Kuttāb! I’m one of the teachers there and I’m excited to dive into the new teaching term. Please share widely with your contacts 🙂

From the website:

2024 | KL Kuttāb Saturday School Registration

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Registration is now open for KL Kuttāb’s 2024 school year! Since the end of 2021, KL Kuttāb has operated as an English language children’s weekend school. Our goal is to assist children with reading and memorization of the Quran as well as teach them their moral and legal obligations as Muslims (farḍ ʿayn). This year we are excited to announce an introductory Arabic language class for ages 5.5-13. In keeping with our mission to provide children with a holistic education, KL Kuttāb also offers a wrestling class, an extracurricular activity inspired by the Prophetic Sunnah. 

This registration form is for all three terms of the 2024 school year. If you would like to register more than one child, we do offer sibling discounts. You will need to fill out this form for each child individually. We have updated our school policies and tuition terms and conditions for this year. These changes are outlined in our new prospectus.. Before registering, kindly review our website:

www.klkuttab.com

OVERVIEW 

Kuttab Classes (Qur’an + Islamic Studies + Arabic) will take place on Saturdays, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. 

Each term of 2024 will be 13 sessions. 

Classes will commence on January 13th, 2023. 

CALENDAR 

For a regularly updated academic calendar see this link:

http://tinyurl.com/5kda54x7

SCHEDULE

TUITION (per term) 

Quran + Islamic Studies only……………………………..RM 1260

Beginner’s Arabic (add-on)………………………………. RM 630 

Wrestling (add-on)……………………………………………RM 355

Sibling discount……………………………………………….RM 300/sibling

LOCATION 
Classes are held at Mukha Ba (IG: https://tinyurl.com/2xwbb547). Mukha Ba is a community space located on the third floor above Mukha Cafe (15, Lorong Rahim Kajai 13, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

SCHOOL SUPPLIES & BOOKS
Children are expected to bring a water bottle, pencil, notebook, and their school-issued textbooks (unless you have been asked on the group to . Kindly leave sugary snacks, electronics, and distracting toys at home. For a more detailed list of school supplies, please consult the prospectus.

DRESS CODE
Children should wear comfortable, light-weight, logo-free clothing that covers their arms and legs. We would like to accustom children to the practice of dressing appropriately for sacred spaces. Please have your child bring a hijāb/veil (for girls) or a kopiah/prayer cap/topi (for boys).  

motherhood, Parenting, Poetry, Writing

On motherhood and writing

Raidah Shah Idil

So….it’s been a while. Much has happened. In short, motherhood is decimating, on so many levels, especially with a spirited toddler.  Please don’t tell me, “Wait til she becomes a teenager!” I will strangle you with my mind.

My pre-motherhood writing practice: Daily, disciplined, at my desk, mug of tea, nature sounds playing in the background.

Current writing practice: WHAT PRACTICE!? WHAT DESK?

Haha. I kid you. I do have a desk. I’m just not there as much as I’d like to be. Right now, I take what I get. Much like a starving person and scraps of food. Motherhood has shown me how much of an introvert I really am, and how much writing helps me surface for much-needed air.

I loved these articles:

  1. Freelancing with a Family: How to Balance Your Work and Your Kids
  2. Yes, It Is Possible to Write a Novel With Small Children Hanging On You
  3. Making Time to Write When You Have Young Children: Mission Impossible?

This post really resonates with me: After Page One: Claiming Space. So beautiful and so real. There is no perfect writing room for me, either – but I make do what with I have.

My daughter spurs my creativity, as much as I need to work around her. I write this as my toddler woke up from sleep. My husband brought her down to have breakfast. She’s in a good mood this morning, so that buys me approximately 10-20 minutes, before she starts calling for me once my husband leaves for work. Go, Raidah, go!

If you’re a writing parent, especially a writing mum, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you find time and energy to write? What helps? What doesn’t help? How do you balance forgiving yourself for not writing as much as you’d like, alongside celebrating your small victories?

Some blog ideas I’m playing with, as I resurrect my blog from the abyss of mothering a toddler:

  • Book review on N.K. Jemisin’s incredible Broken Earth trilogy.
  • Book review on Zen Cho’s Sorcerer To the Crown.
  • Reflections on reading my poetry at my sister’s chapbook launch.
  • I finally submitted my poetry manuscript to the wonderful Ethos Books!

I’m open to suggestions. Leave a comment and share your thoughts 🙂

Writing

Why write?

Raidah Shah Idil

“The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.”

— Anaïs Nin

I’ve lived an interesting life spanning many continents. My childhood, adolescence and adulthood each had their raptures and ruptures, and the threads that kept me together were faith and fiction. I remember being 12, new to Australia and the labyrinth of highschool. I had my own minotaurs, and no Ariadne to guide my way. My sanctuary, however, was the school library, where I was safe in the cocoon of Tamora Pierce’s Wild Magic. There, I lived vicariously through Daine, who was more afraid than I was, yet she grew through her trials and, of course, saved the day. Now that was a good book – it gave me respite from reality! Most of all, I could relate to Daine, and hoped for her courage in the face of adversity.

As an adult, writing gives me a healthy outlet for the drama of daily life; my “Are You Married Yet?” article spawned a lively debate. I’m very grateful for the outpouring of support, and as for those who disagreed…well, there’s always two sides to a fence 🙂 Writing that piece was fun and therapeutic, and personally, I find writing opinion pieces much, much easier than fiction.

Finding Jamilah, on the other hand, took months of concentrated effort. I made a point of writing every day. When I procrastinated, my mental “You should be writing!” would finally reach melting point, and tip me over to writing something. It could be a word, it could be a sentence, sometimes two…but that first step of opening up my word document was the hardest thing. Akin to pulling a tooth out. Minus anaesthetic.  Once that was done, then usually, the story flowed. Usually.

When it didn’t flow, I would try another day, and another day, and another day, and slowly, my story came together. Supportive friends and family made all the difference during my writing slumps! Friends and family are a tremendous blessing, particularly when it’s late, you’re tired and wondering why you started writing this story to begin with. They remind you that your story is a a story worth reading, so get on with the writing! So if you’re writing your own book – keep going. Don’t stop. Have a supportive group of friends and family around you who 1) encourage you 2) hold you accountable when you get lazy and start chilling out at Writer’s Block!