Week 3 -Back in The Netherlands

The end of my second week in Germany came with its share of challenges. I experienced bloating and a swollen upper abdomen, accompanied by considerable discomfort and pain. My clinic doctor, who was on call, prescribed medication to ease the pain and soothe my tummy—which helped for a while but by Monday, June 16, I was still not feeling my best. After running a few checks and placing me on an infusion to help relieve some of the ascites, I felt a little better. It was then decided that the best course of action would be to return to the Netherlands and have the cyst removed.

With medication in hand to continue the progress we made in Germany, I felt good about the decision. My husband packed up the apartment, we said our goodbyes for now, and made the drive back to the Netherlands.

What followed was a truly uplifting week. Being back home with my youngest son, cuddling my cats, soaking in the Dutch sunshine from the garden, and sleeping in my own bed brought me so much comfort. My appetite returned, and aside from occasional discomfort around the cyst area, I felt a significant improvement.

My gynecologist kindly squeezed in an appointment for me the very next day. She performed some assessments and told me she’d follow up regarding the surgery. In the meantime, she scheduled an appointment with the anesthesiologist to begin preparations.

The rest of the week was dedicated to gentle rhythms of healing—infrared and sauna blanket sessions each evening before sleep, soothing castor oil packs to encourage recovery, and a return to sunnah-inspired nourishment. I nurtured my body with Talbina (barley) for breakfast, a soul-soothing tradition known from the time of the Prophet ﷺ, and delighted in the sweet, earthy richness of Ajwa dates (low GI & sugar compared to all other dates). Freshly pressed pomegranate juice added a vivid burst of vitality, reminding me that Allah’s creation offers both healing and beauty. I even ventured into the city on Thursday for a breath of fresh air and a change of scenery. That’s when the unexpected happened—a call came in informing me that a last-minute surgical slot had become available for the very next day at midday. Without hesitation, I said yes. Alhamdulillah. Since my first consultation, I had promised myself to hold fast to sabr (patience) and trust in the divine timeline. Things would unfold not by my plan, but by divine decree. That call meant cutting my city trip short, but my heart felt ready. I returned home eagerly to prepare for the next chapter of this healing journey.

Before surgery day arrived, I was blessed with a beautiful surprise. My beloved Tafsir teacher Samia’s daughter happened to be visiting the Netherlands. While I had assumed I’d miss seeing her due to my stay in Germany, divine orchestration had other plans. My husband and I drove to Amsterdam to meet her on Thursday evening, along with her father and family, for tea before their flight back to the U.S. It was such a gift—warm embraces, heartfelt laughter, conversations rich with faith. Though Samia wasn’t physically there, her essence, her love, and her spirit were present in her daughter. As the evening came to a close, I returned home and surrendered the night to prayer, reciting Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18) and engaging in the evening Adhkar, keeping my heart and tongue immersed in remembrance of Allah. That spiritual anchoring brought comfort and clarity, gently preparing me for the sacred hours that lay ahead.

“O ye who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do this often; And glorify Him morning and evening.” (41-42:33)

The connection and support I’ve received from our Quranic Ocean sisters has been nothing short of sacred. It’s a blessed, radiant space nurtured by our guiding light, our teacher and friend Samia Mubarak—a true angel on earth. A woman of the Qur’an, she embodies humility, beauty, talent, and grace. Always giving, always nurturing, always reflecting the Prophetic character in all that she does.

And so, my dear readers, as I wrap up this chapter of Week 3—with a few posts still to be updated from Week 2 , I wanted to leave you with a heartfelt thank you. Your words of encouragement, your prayers, your light-filled support have wrapped me and my family in warmth we can never quite put into words. We feel held, uplifted, and deeply loved.

As I now step into the next phase of this journey, I will take a brief pause to focus on healing. When I’m ready, I’ll return to share what comes next. In the meantime, my wonderful husband Faried will keep you updated both here and on LinkedIn.

For now, I entrust my path to Ash-Shāfi, The Healer, asking that He guide the hands of the surgeons and bless this procedure with success. Ameen.

Until we meet again, with love, sabr, and a heart full of trust. 🌷

Haseeba

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