A Blackburn woman says her heart ‘skipped a beat’ when she discovered the word ‘Allah’ written in Arabic when she cut open an aubergine.

Noreen Hameed, who is headteacher at Palm Trees Nursery School and chair of the Amana Group, said she was preparing a meal and was overjoyed at seeing the words for the second time in her life.

She said: “As I was preparing a meal in my kitchen in Blackburn, I experienced a moment that left me in awe. 

“I had just put on a nasheed, a beautiful and deeply moving song about the Kaaba, and was reflecting on the magnificence of Allah as I listened to the words. 

“The nasheed’s lyrics spoke to my heart, reminding me of the sacred and spiritual, a moment of stillness and reflection in a busy day.

“It was right then, while cutting through an aubergine, that I paused and looked down at the vegetable in my hand.

"There, to my surprise, was the unmistakable Arabic script of ‘Allah,’ naturally formed in the flesh of the aubergine. 

“My heart skipped a beat. It was as though I had stumbled upon a divine reminder, a sign of Allah’s presence in the smallest details of life.”

It is not the first time Noreen has found her God's name written inside an aubergine and shared a similar experience in 2021.

Noreen says she felt something ‘deep and indescribable’. 

She said: “It wasn’t just the shock of seeing ‘Allah’ written in such an unexpected place; it was the feeling of connection and gratitude that came over me.

"It was as though Allah had responded to my thoughts and reflections, reminding me that his presence surrounds us, even in the humblest corners of our daily lives.

“This experience has had a profound impact on me. It reminded me that signs of the divine are everywhere, waiting for us to notice them. 

“Often, we’re too busy to see these moments or too focused on our routines to appreciate the blessings around us.

"Yet, this moment with the aubergine felt like a gentle nudge, a reminder to pause, to reflect, and to remember Allah’s greatness in all things.”

She says she is hoping the experience will inspire others to ‘slow down and look for the beauty and meaning in their own lives’. 

She added: “Sometimes, what seems like a small, everyday moment can turn into a profound reminder of faith.

"Whether it’s in nature, in a conversation, or in something as simple as a vegetable in your kitchen, Allah’s presence is everywhere, if only we take the time to see it.

“This encounter has left me with a renewed sense of gratitude and a deeper connection to my faith.

"It is a blessing I’ll carry with me, a beautiful reminder that Allah is always near, surrounding us with signs of his magnificence in ways we might never expect.”

Over the years, excited readers have shared similar moments in the past.

In the past the words ‘Allah’ or ‘Muhammad’ have been seen on tree branches, fish and in cloud formations.

For some people these incidents are mere coincidence, whilst for others it helps to reinforce their faith.