Humayra's Writing Den

It's A Hijab, Not A Halo

2012-05-20T11:46:00.001+08:00

Assalamualaikum everyone!!
Admittedly, I haven't updated my blog yet again... this time, due to ideas that somehow or other fails to be written properly (or typed, rather) and translated into a nice article. Not that it's not there. But I will try my best to get those ideas on the blog by this week or two, insyaAllah..

Meanwhile, here's a lovely article I found on the net. I shared it in Facebook, and would also like to share them here.

source: http://www.igotitcovered.org/2012/05/18/its-a-hijab-not-a-halo/

photo credits: Aura Besi

I’m still a newbie at this; at a stage where the wardrobe malfunctions have been reduced, but not quite at the stage where I’m used to the slight loss of peripheral vision when I drive. I have yet to figure out a graceful way to wear my sunglasses or use my iPod without messing up the whole symmetry of my scarf. I still don’t know how to sleep comfortably on long haul flights without the worry of my whole scarf coming undone. But these are minor issues, which I’m sure time will solve.

However, I’m still not used to being deemed as an authority on Islam just because of what I wear. During a round table discussion on Islamic financing, attended by experts in the field, I suddenly found thirteen pairs of eyes looking my way whenever a point of Islamic fiqh had to be confirmed or validated. This attention was most likely due to my hijab rather than my credentials.

On a personal level, people frequently ask me questions about Islam –people who had always known I was Muslim, but had never quite appreciated the fact until my outward look was revamped. I walk down corridors, and instead of getting the normal greetings, some people literally stand to attention and give me Salam. This new look has provoked surprising reactions.

So, like it or not, the final and defining characteristic of a pious Muslimah appears to be her clothing. It is drilled into our psyches as one of the most crucial elements of a Muslimah’s faith and identity.

But what about the bigger picture?

I have been told that the piousness of a Muslimah is evident in her face. Her expression is calm and tranquil; she carries herself with a serenity that is unperturbed by external circumstances. Her conduct is patient and unhurried; her tongue does not react in anger and spite, but rather remains moist with the remembrance of Allah. There are no frowns of anguish on her face, because her heart is at peace and she is contented with Allah’s bounties upon her.

That peacefulness, in turn, is borne out of her surrender to the will of Allah, and her desire to please Him.

It has been said that her actions towards others are kind and considerate. She keeps herself clean, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She does not commit injustice nor oppression upon herself or those around her. She guards her modesty, carries herself with humbleness and humility, and is generous and honest in her dealings. She does not gossip, speak ill, or pry. She is swift to sacrifice her money, time, energy, and even emotions for the sake of Allah. She is aware of her multiple duties in life, as a daughter, a wife, a mother, an educator and the nucleus of the Ummah from which the new generation of Muslims is propagated.

When Allah gives her light, she radiates that light and illuminates those around her. From that springs the true and rare beauty of a Muslim woman.

And I question myself, because I know that I don’t even own a fraction of these qualities. They do not manifest just from donning the hijab. Such attributes, with the mercy of Allah, can only be obtained by individual spiritual journeys, through learning, understanding and implementing the Deen. The hijab is only a brush stroke on the canvas within a much bigger picture. Without it the work is incomplete, but it is not the sole element that makes the painting. And my own canvas is incomplete and riddled with mistakes.

By wearing the hijab, voluntarily or otherwise, we have presented ourselves as the role models of Islam. Hence whenever a hijabi does something wrong, the effect and repercussions are amplified in the eyes of the observers. Perhaps this is the reason that non-Muslims and non-hijabis are puzzled and often discouraged by the apparent disconnect between the adornment of the scarf and the beauty of Islam.

Hence, people are understandably bewildered when they see hijabi women backbite, quarrel, complain and unable to keep their rudeness or tempers in check. People question why some hijabis are fully compliant in their physical appearance, yet negligent with their Salah. People get a bad impression when they see some hijabis behave hysterically at concerts and football matches, flirt openly and behave lewdly. People wonder why selfish, stingy, arrogant and even abusive behaviour can be seen permeating through the physical barriers of veil. And ultimately, the sum total of all these incidents has led many to conclude that Islam starts and stops at the hijab.

So, let me make a general appeal. The hijab is not a halo. It does not render the wearer superhuman qualities. Underneath the garments is a normal human being with her own flaws and imperfections. And like everyone else, she is also susceptible to mistakes.

The scarf protects against a particular sin but it does not by itself eradicate negative habits and manners. Self-development remains an individual struggle which all of us, hijabis or not, should strive to overcome on a daily basis.

Thus I have come to realize that the scarf is neither the beginning nor the conclusion, it is merely one of the steps in our journey towards Allah.

The inner struggle continues:

to be constantly thankful and submissive to Allah for all His bounties upon us and what He has chosen for us.
To remember Allah in the good times and the bad.
To find peace and spread that peace within society.
And ultimately, to instill true shyness within ourselves –not just in the eyes of men, but also front of Allah for our conduct.

Let me be the first to admit it – I am so far from the ideal. I stumble, I freak out and I lose it sometimes. And it worries me whenever I deal with others because how I behave is no longer a reflection of myself as an individual, but rather a reflection of the Ummah as a collective. It was not a role that any of us asked for, but it came as part of the package when we started wearing the hijab and externally identified ourselves as Muslim women.

And now, I constantly ask myself – will my behaviour repulse others from Islam, or attract them towards it? The former is a scary thought. The latter, something to aspire towards.

I can only appeal to non-hijabi sisters sitting on the fence to forgive the occasional poor manners displayed by the hijabi sisters. Instead of judging them, please make du’a for them to rectify their shortcomings and be better ambassadors of our Deen. And ultimately, remember that the only relevant issue is what Allah wants of you, not how others behave.

The journey continues for all of us: whether hijabi or on the way to becoming one inshaAllah.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DISCLAMER: The article is NOT mine. Just sharing it for your benefit, as well as mine.

As a final note, I would like to share a reminder by Ust Khurram Murad':

Islam is a state of becoming, not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and better yourself - and you will improve.'

|| Starting Again? ||

2012-04-09T10:51:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum..

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, most Merciful

Whew... haven't blogged in so long... Four months for that matter. Not that I've nothing to write, but just no sufficient motivation to finish writing. Plus so many hectic days.. But now I'd like to post again, for I love this blog, and I like exploring my own writings, sharing my thoughts. I hope you will bear with my not-so-frequent updates. I'll try and post at least once a week after this, insyaAllah. May Allah help me write something which might benefit not only myself, but also all of you as well.

For today, I'd just like to share my recent artwork. Not that good, but I love the quote. A reminder to myself, especially. Feel free to download or share them, but don't erase my name. ^_^

tarbiyah is never an easy path. struggles, blood, sweat n tears involved. to change ourselves and sculpt our life to what Allah love, ain't easy, for sure. But even gold n diamond are tough to create. more so the strife towards processing our heart to bow down to the Sustainer and Creator. InsyaAllah, the struggle will be worth it!

~ source of quote: http://www.yasminmogahed.com/2011/10/19/reflections/

Well... that's all for now. Food for thought, for you and me.

May Allah bless us, and guide us on the straight path.

_HumayraSolehah_

~School's Out: What to Do After SPM? Jom JDK! ~

2011-12-14T23:41:00.001+08:00

Assalamualaikum..

Well... a lot of things had been going on these past few weeks. Time waits for no man, hence we really do need to utilize time wisely.

For those of you who are finishing SPM, or have kids who had just finished them, or are teachers of fifth formers, here is an activity to fill up some of those free time wisely. A programme designed to upgrade life skills, and to gain many new experiences. Kursus Jati Diri dan Kesukarelawanan (JDK).

Well... without ranting too much, I'll share the poster:

So... a bit of a background.. JDK had been held since 2009, and had now expanded to include four places, namely Johor, Selangor, Perak and Terengganu. The poster above is the poster for JDK in Johor, but the programme will be held at the same time in all four states, insyaAllah, that is from 24th December to 14th January.

The location for all the states are as written below:

1) Batu Ampar Resort, Kampung Paya Lintah, Perak

2) Kem Bumi Jati, Shah Alam, Selangor

3) Savannah Hill, Ulu Tiram, Johor

4) ILIM, Besut, Terengganu

For sharing of past experiences with JDK, here are some:
1. http://jdk2011.haluan.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36:perkongsianjdk-2010-halawatuliman05&catid=20&Itemid=169
2. http://jdk2011.haluan.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35:memori-indah-jdk-zon-timur-brohamzah&catid=20&Itemid=169

It's a worthwhile experience, and value for money, indeed.
Hope to meet all of you there! :)

Be The Best That You Can Ever Be….

2011-11-20T13:56:00.001+08:00

>> this is a lovely poem my mum shared when I was in lower secondary school… found it again online, and decide to share it with you. Disclaimer: I do not write this, nor do I know who did. But you sure write a great poem!

The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.

The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.

The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.

Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.

Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.

Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.

Teach, and you will learn.
Show your best face to the mirror, and you'll be happy with
the face looking back at you.

“Different”: A Label of Hidden Blessings

2011-10-30T15:41:00.001+08:00

Have you ever been labelled 'different' in any way? Do you have any abnormality or deficiency which makes you stand out from the ordinary?

As an eye care practitioner, I occasionally met some people who are different compared to the normal human population. Some of the abnormality acquired as they grow older, while others have been different, ever since they are born. Some of these deficiencies are obvious, while others are only known to themselves. Some of the conditions are diagnosed by my colleague, lecturers (while in university), doctors, or me (depending on the severity of the condition). Not that I was oblivious to how the patients feel about the conditions they're dealing with, but somehow or other, one occasionally forgets how it feels to be in their shoes.

Yet one question came up recently, asked by a friend: "What are the advantages of being colour blind?" The random inquiry got me thinking... yes, being colour blind (a more accurate term which is colour vision deficiency-CVD) may be a disadvantage, if observed from one angle: that you are 'different', and you are unable to work in certain jobs or distinguish certain colours. Yet looking at it from another perspective, there are hidden blessings waiting to be discovered amidst the difficulties. Let's see what some of them are...

~Rainbows: what some colour vision deficiency people see~

source:http://forquestions.com/how-are-color-blindness-see-the-rainbow/298

Ever since I was small, I was used to people around me being a bit different from myself, and different from the crowd. My brother, a close friend now, and a good rival when we're younger, is one of them. Another is my best friend during secondary school. However, in spite of their disadvantage in terms of appearance, both of them grew very strong and healthy personalities. Sure, they're both teased and laughed at occasionally. But they learn to find true friends, voice out their thoughts, and strengthen their self esteem with the help of great teachers, friends and family. Both are now one of the most confident people I know.

In a sense, Allah made them different, but He moulds their character like no one else can, giving them great people to befriend and love them. In colour vision deficiency context, you do have slight difficulty in identifying some colours from each other, yet you have discovered friends who don't mind helping you out in distinguishing them apart, and not laugh at you if you confuse them. As it is, most of the time, should you lack one thing, you are given an edge elsewhere by The Most High, Most Merciful.

There are certain limitations to having colour vision defect; for certain wavelength of colours may seem similar to others. Certain day-to-day activities such as identifying traffic light colours, certain electrical components, and jobs such as train operators and electrician may be restricted for them. Yet, one should be thankful. For in this world, there are people who have so much less than what we do. Vision-wise, some people are blind ever since they are born. Others find that their vision is reducing day by day. Some people have very limited vision that not even the best of spectacles can help them see as we do. Other people have a lack of pigments on their eyes, and thus have very high sensitivity to light. These are just some of the many other types of eye conditions which some people suffer. Yet all in all, no matter what our condition is, be it a simple case of short-sightedness, a reversible case of cataract, CVD, or even blindness, remember that Allah made us all in the best possible way. We are chosen to be special in that sense.

The conditions, deficiencies, and disabilities... those are part and parcel of who we are. A reminder for us, that we are indeed very fragile, but Allah loves us all the same. Be thankful for them, and be thankful for the abilities which each one of us has, as well. Allow them to make us more humble as HIS servants. But make sure, that we don't look at them as something which hampers us from going forward. Instead, look at them as obstacles, stepping stones for us to move forward and be better person in serving Allah, and benefiting the society.

Finally... to answer my friend's question in a scientific perspective.... colour blind is a deficiency, which causes limitation in colour perception. This is mostly due to cone photoreceptors (which allows colours to be distinguished) in the retina which lacks one (or more) photosensitive pigments, which causes as inability to recognize one of the three primary colours of light, either red, green, or blue. Hence the impact on activities which requires colour identification might be quite a lot. Recent research shows that Deutans (the most common form of colour vision defect) are more accurate in identifying camouflaged colours then those with normal colour vision. It is thought that this is beneficial during the time when most men are hunters, as they could sense hidden animals easier. As for its benefits for present times, that remains a mystery. But one thing for sure, you may happily solve coloured rubic cube puzzles which baffles us, as your colour perspective is different.

~Pencil colours: what some colour vision deficiency people see~

source:http://forquestions.com/how-are-color-blindness-see-the-rainbow/298

All in all, be it someone with perfect vision, colour blind, squinting eyes, dyslexia, handicapped, blind... Let us not be blinded by how great we are, or how bad our condition is. For the reality of this world, which so many people turn a blind eye to, is that this world is but a transient stop to the next life. Whatever our condition is, it is but a temporary test presented to us in this world that will be lifted once we are in Jannah, insyaAllah. Allah does not mind if we are 'different'. No. All He minds is how we face life's tests and undergo our journey in this world, how close we are to The Creator, and how much we try to benefit others, in spite of our limitations.

"O mankind! We have created you from male and female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honoured among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is the most righteous." (al-Hujurat: 13)

>> A reminder for me to remember, thoughts for you to ponder and reflect. J

[Alert!!] Somalia

2011-08-23T22:58:00.000+08:00

Somalia is calling.. show that we care!
Take time this Ramadhan to do your part in helping those in need.

A touching entry regarding the famine HERE

For a New Chapter of Life!

2011-06-26T15:11:00.005+08:00

Assalamualaikum...

First of all.. it's been eons since this blog's updated. So I owe all of you a huge apology. Sorry guys, for making you wait this long. So much has been going on the past few months with school, and life in general.

Well... a lot have happened, and I've ended one big chapter of my life. My life as a university student. Alhamdulillah.. I'll be graduating this year, with all of my classmates. Yup. No more university classes and clinics. But welcome, to the school of life. I'll be starting my first carrier as a professional soon, insyaAllah. Undoubtedly, my heart's been racing with nervous anticipation of what's in store. My boss seems nice, but very strict, at the same time. Hope I'll have a good time working, and no trouble adjusting to the working world.

Some of you might have just graduated too, and maybe start working already. Or have been working part time somewhere in this long university holidays. Well... here are a few reminders. Written to remind me when I work later. Hope they will be useful to you too.

While so many people work for money...

Chasing large cars, big houses

Be sure you are different

Make money. No problem

But work solely for your Lord

For all things in life may come and go

(yes, even those mountains of money you invest!)

Yet faith in Allah

Work, for HIS sake

Will take you forward

Most importantly

Will bring you fountains of happiness

Here, and in the hereafter

Work may tire you

They may stress you out

But remember,

Difficulties that doesn't kill you will only make you stronger

and repeat this favorite verse

"Verily after hardship, comes relief!"

InsyaAllah, Allah will never let you down

Hard work and patience is the ingredient that brings you far

Persevere and strive forward

For Rome is not built in one day

Nor can an optometrist become an expert in a blink of an eye

You may earn thousands of Ringgit

Yet, my dear self,

Never let money fool you

Never let money change who you are

Don't let greed overshadow your principles

Don't allow them from preventing you to do what's right

Happiness does not come from money

For it is only but a tool

Always remember,

What you give to others

Are the only things that really belongs to you

For those are yours to bring you to Jannah

Also, please do remember this verse:

"And the (faithful) slaves of the Most Gracious (Allâh)

are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness,

and when the foolish address them (with bad words)

they reply back with mild words of gentleness."

(Al-Furqan: 63)

No matter how high you go

No matter how much money and power you possess

Walk down the streets with humility

Treat everyone with respect

For we are all the same in Allah's eyes

Only piety makes one special to Him.

Last but not least...

Remember your dreams

Go for your goals

Fulfill your responsibilities

To Allah, to your parents, your family,

your friends, your customers, and the ummah

And strive on to become beneficial

For Allah's sake

No matter what you do.

"And which you give in gift (to others),

in order that it may increase (your wealth by expecting to get a better one in return)

from other people's property, has no increase with Allah.

But that which you give in charity

seeking Allah's Countenance then those,

They shall have manifold increase"

(ar-Rum: 39)

~ whew... a long rant indeed. Perhaps due to the prolonged silence from any rants previously? Hmm.. may be. Anyway.. that's all for this time. Please remind me when I forget these things... May Allah bless you and me.

p/s: please pray for me, I've a driving test on Wednesday, and I'm very nervous...

An Inspirational Story ~ Honesty

2011-03-09T21:46:00.000+08:00

Picture source: http://www.asktonythegardener.com/

Once there was an emperor in the Far East who was growing old and knew it was coming time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or one of his own children, he decided to do something different.

He called all the young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, “It has come time for me to step down and to choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.” The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One seed. It is a very special seed. I want you to go home, plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring to me, and the one I choose will be the next emperor of the kingdom!”

There was one boy named Ling who was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the whole story. She helped him get a pot and some planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown.

After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept going home and checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by. Still nothing.

By now others were talking about their plants but Ling didn’t have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn’t say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she encouraged him to go, and to take his pot, and to be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace.

When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by all the other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, “Hey nice try.”

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,” said the emperor. “Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!”

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. “The emperor knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!”

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. “My name is Ling,” he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, “Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!” Ling couldn’t believe it. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grown, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!”

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Source: http://xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/an-inspirational-story-honesty/

Hope So..

2011-02-20T19:39:00.001+08:00

After every hardship, there's relief!

You'll see the beauty of this journey.

InsyaAllah.

Till then.. persevere!

Sometimes.. I Wonder

2011-02-20T19:23:00.001+08:00

At times I wonder....

What's there in front of me?

Running.. walking... falling...

climbing back up again.

Run. Walk. Stumble.

Repeat the cycle. Again and again.

All for the future.

Hopes and dreams of happiness

Bliss. In this life, and the next.

A small voice inside me speak again..

Will my dreams be mine someday?

Ya Allah...

Let me be a good servant.

A servant tireless in facing life's journey

A servant who accepts all tribulations, situations

Sticks and stones of life

Ya al-'Azeem,

Let me be a servant who,

no matter how tough things are,

how hopeless things seem

will always have faith

and never give up hope

to You.

A servant who,

If I'm blessed with an easy life

will never forget You

will still humbly bow low

and serve You,

to the best of my ability

to be thankful to You

always...

for now I plead...

Oh Allah, al Ba'ith

please grant me patience and strength

grant me optimism in what I do

lend me the will to pursue my dreams...

Current feelings? Well... I'll let you guess. But please do pray for me, dear friends. Life is hectic. May Allah bless...

Let The Love be Real!

2011-02-15T22:59:00.001+08:00

Assalamualaikum readers...

No, this post is not about valentines day. 'Love', for me, is not just about those around you. It goes deeper than that. Because it transcends boundaries of place, time, and even dimensions.

It is a powerful feeling. It may motivate, weaken, strengthen people. It gives value and happiness to life, while, for others, brings despair and hardships.

Who do you love most?
Try ask your heart that question...
Is it yourself? Your parents? Your friends? Your future spouse? Your money?

or..
Is it Allah and His prophet, Muhammad PBUH?

In al-Quran, Allah states:

Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allâh and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause[], then wait until Allâh brings about His Decision (torment). And Allâh guides not the people who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh) [at-Tawbah: 24]

So look into your heart... check again, who do you love most? If Allah and Prophet Muhammad pbuh is not on the top list, try, try, and try to make it the one you love most. For this verse comes as a warning, that Allah will torment those who love others more than Him, and His prophet.

If you claim that you do love Allah and the Prophet most of all, what is your proof? Loving, initiates action. Imagine, telling a girl that you love her so much, then neglecting her, never giving her anything, not caring for her. Do you think the girl will believe you? The same also applies to loving Allah and Rasulullah. It requires you to act, for the rest of your life, according to what Allah and Rasulullah likes, and avoiding what they dislike.

If you think that, your heart is still far from putting Allah and Rasulullah on top, don't despair. Just resolve, from now on, to put them on top. Act, as if they are already in your heart, as the one you love most. For by action, you are training your heart, to make it a reality.

Think that it is so difficult to love Allah? Try and get closer to Him. Get to know Him more... through The Quran, through pondering on His creations, His everlasting love and care. Allah loves us so much already. Look at everything He gave us. Our body, the air we breath, the money we have... the list is endless. Yet if we love Allah, He will love us, so much more.

As for Rasulullah, remember that he really does love us. So much, that even until his last breath, he calls "ummati... ummati..." and worries about us. This man had given his whole life to ensure Islam reaches us today. He sacrifices everything, his time, his money, his energy, so that we are saved from being burnt in hellfire. Is he not worth loving?

"My ummah, those who follow me, the future of their faith makes me worry till I cry!" - Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)

Let us try. Let us instill love, for Allah and Rasulullah, deep inside our heart. Remind ourselves of this verse, again:

Me: I aim to go into Heaven, and meet Allah and Propher Muhammad. Don't you? Come on then.. let's work towards it!

Life: Overwhelmed

2011-02-15T21:33:00.001+08:00

Assalamualaikum everyone...

Ever felt that sometimes, things get so overwhelming in life? They just started to spin around you, in one chaotic manner, piling up stress on your tired mind, more and more? Making you want to break down, as if your mind is in need of re-wiring.

Neurons... in need of re-wiring

Well... al-Quran is indeed the best balm for those moments. The best loveletter of all time. Here are a few nice verses to remember when you're feeling down:

Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. ( 13:28)

O mankind, there has come to you a protection from your Lord and a healing for what is in your hearts, and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy. (10:57)

Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. (2:257)

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. (2:186)

"Say: Praise be to Allah, and Peace on His servants whom He has chosen (for his Message). (Who) is better?― Allah or the false gods they associate with Him? (59) Or who has created the heaven and the earth, and who sends you down rain from the sky? Yea, with it We cause to grow well-planted orchards full of beauty and delight: it is not in your power to cause the growth of the trees in them. (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Nay they are a people who swerve from justice.(60) Or, who has made the earth firm to live in; made rivers in its midst; set thereon mountains immovable; and made a separating bar between the two bodies of flowing water? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Nay most of them know not. (61) Or, who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Little it is that ye heed! (62) Or, who guides you through the depths of darkness on land and sea, and who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? High is Allah above what they associate with Him! (63) Or who originates Creation, then repeats it, and who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Say "Bring forth your argument, if ye are telling the truth!" (64) Say: None in the heavens or on earth, except Allah, knows what is hidden: nor can they perceive when they shall be raised up (for Judgment).(65)" (an-Naml: 59-63)

Need to keep moving forward. Need to keep going. Because tougher things are, the stronger you'll be, at the end of it all. Maintain pace, increase them, if possible.

Yeah, final year is tiring. But insyaAllah, there'll be rewards for them. Besides.. Jannah ain't cheap at all. And if you consider studying to be a Jihad, then struggle forward, no matter how tough things may be. Life's matters are also tough. So much to think of, so much to settle. So many people to please and consider. Yet that's life. The older you are, the more responsibilities you will have. The more you have to consider. But insyaAllah, Allah will make you be ready for them when the time comes. Ya Allah... please make me strong. Make me strong, in facing everything, in dealing with every matter, the way You please.

I know I'm waiting
Waiting for something
Something to happen to me
But this waiting comes with
Trials and challenges
Nothing in life is free

I wish that somehow
You'd tell me out aloud
That on that day I'll be ok
But we'll never know cause
That's not the way it works
Help me find my way

My Lord show me right from wrong
Give me light make me strong
I know the road is long
Make me strong

Sometimes it just gets too much
I feel that I've lost touch
I know the road is long
Make me strong

I know I'm waiting
Yearning for something
Something known only to me
This waiting comes with
Trials and challenges

Life is one mystery

I wish that somehow
You'd tell me out aloud
That on that day you'll forgive me
But we'll never know cause
That's not the way it works

I beg for your mercy
My Lord show me right from wrong
Give me light make me strong
I know the road is long
Make me strong

Sometimes it just gets too much
I feel that I've lost touch
I know the road is long
Make me strong

Nasyid: I am Near

2011-01-13T23:02:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum everyone!

Hm... I haven't shared any nasyeed in a while... so.. decide to share one here. Many thanks to a dear sister, Sarah, who shared this with me earlier today. I love the lyrics so much, masyaALlah. Hope you do too.

Do listen to this song with your heart, not just as an entertainment. May Allah bless.

Song: I am Near
By: Native Deen
Lyric Source: http://www.nativedeen.com/iamnear/

Ya Allah - Subhannahu wa ta'alla (Glorious and exalted)
Ya Allah - Samee' Li-duana (The One who hears our prayers)
My Lord - I know that you hear me
Ya Rabbi (oh My Lord) - Cause He says

When they ask about me, my servants, I am near
Have no doubts about me, and know I hear your prayer
Take one step towards me, and I'll come running to you
Just have faith and believe, and know I listen to you

Allahummah (Dear God) creator of the universe,
maker of this living earth
greater than we comprehend

Allahummah your the King of all Kings
created all things
on you we all depend.

Allahummah please forgive me my sins,
my heart to be cleansed,
my soul purified, Ameen!

Allahummahaa protect me desires that
Lead to the fire, its you who provides, Ameen!

Allahummah help the Muslims of world,
Give them joy, give them love.
every boy every girl, Ameen!

Allahummun now this prayer I made,
Just to you I prayed
Cause indeed you said…

[Chorus]

Allahummah let my people understand me,
Guide my neighbors, co-workers
the human family. Ameen!

Allahummah help my people up in Palestine,
Who be dying,
Oppressed all the time, Ameen!

Allahummah give the folks in my community, unity
and help our youth to succeed, Ameen!
Allahummah bless my mother and father, my sisters and brothers
my wife and my daughter, Ameen!

Allahummah bless this group Native Deen,
help us stay on the path
Siratal Mustaqim, Ameen!

Allahummah now this prayer I made, just to you i prayed
cause indeed you said.

[Chorus]

Call on God, He is glorified,
We call him a lot but you don't even try

Call on God, you want to know why,
Should I even call and will he reply

Call on God, raise your hands high
He wants you to call him every day and night

Call on God, he hears when you cry,
He made it a promise and he would never lie.

Allah ya Rabbi, Ya Rabb
Help me increase my Iman (faith)
Allah ya Rabbi, Ya Rabb
Help me have faith in your plan
Allah ya Rabbi, Ya Rabb
Your blessings please never stop
Allah ya Rabbi Ya Rabb
Grant me peace in my heart!

[Chorus]

Beauty by Definition

2011-01-13T22:17:00.003+08:00

assalamualaikum wbt. everyone!

How are you? May Allah guide you, and me in the right path, towards eternal success, insyaAllah.

Today I would like to share a very nice video. This brother made a poem, on 'beautiful'. Very nice, masyaAllah. But before you press the play button, I would like to ask you to take time and reflect for a while.. what is YOUR definition of beautiful?

Think...

Think..

Okey, you can watch it now.. (^_^)

Hope you had watched it, and enjoyed it as much as I did. Did it penetrate through your mind and have you re-define beauty as it had on me?

A few highlights of the video...

Everyone loves beauty. Everyone appreciates beauty, and wish to be beautiful. Girls spend their time in front of the mirror, while guys try their best to look sharp in their ties, blazers and slacks.

Yet is that the limitation of beauty that we seek? Is beauty, showing off sexuality, make-ups, injections, faking here and there? Is that all there is?

But if the whole world was blind, then how many people would you impress??

Beauty by definition, should not be so vague. If it is all up to sights.. then there must be a huge piece missing out of the whole picture. Because beauty is obviously more than just about sights and smells. It should be more than just face paints, hair dyes, and perfumes.

Love yourself first, before anyone else can love you. And to love yourself, is to love The One of which to all love belongs.
Never thought of it this way... but yeah, in order to appreciate yourself, you must first appreciate your Creator and Sustainer. The Most Beautiful. Thus to be confident that Allah had made us, the best, is to love, and really feel that He, our Creator, is, first and foremost, The Best. The Most Beautiful will indeed made us beautiful, as He loves beauty. And thus we also realize that, because He created us, He'll know what's the best protection for us, to remain beautiful in His eyes. Thus, we try our very best to obey Him.

Once, I've faced with a challenge. Which opened up my own view of how some people view hijab, and of my own views and stand, too. In primary school (Primary Four, if I'm not mistaken), I was once laughed at when a strong gust of wind blew and my hijab went right off. Alhamdulillah, my friends back then were very supportive, and immediately surrounded me so that I can wear them properly again. I was really mad at the boy who laughed. And yes, a tad bit ashamed, too, at the time, perhaps. But as I pondered upon the incident years afterwards, I guess... it was not his fault. The boy is just a kid. Stereotyping people is everywhere, and kids just follow others. Yet , alhamdulillah, at the time, I have proudly persevered with my attire, for it represents me, as a Muslimah. And I've to show that, despite what others say, I am not oppressed by what I choose to wear. Without a doubt, his insults hurt. I am just a kid. But thankfully Allah sent me good friends who protect me and reassure that it is alright to practice what I understand. To backtrack a little, at the time, the Public School I went to had only two full time hijabis. Me, and another Iranian girl who is two years older than I. Hence, his views and acts, were, I presume, an act done out of ignorance. And yes, many others have faced much harder criticism and mockery than I had. Undoubtedly.

Which brings me to this stanza: Maybe she doesn't even care what people think. 'Coz most people's opinion ain't even valid.

In this so called 'modern' world, so many people view hijab as oppression. Others, in many parts of the Muslim society (even in Malaysia), view hijab as more of a fashion, rather than an act done willingly, in order to obey the Creator, because she truly understands and realize fully what the hijab meant for her. Opinions, to girls, especially, seem to matter a lot, somehow. "How do I look? Is this zit so big that it showed? Is my hair right today?" are just some of the many questions girls ask themselves, again and again. But through the hijab, Allah thought us to look at beauty in a different perspective. Not as how others see you, but how did Allah look at you? What is His opinion?

The hijab should not just be a fashion sense. Nor should someone wear them, just for the sake of obeying a teacher, or parents. If so, then at another place, some other situation, at work, etc, she might just take them off again, because of what people see, because it is not the trend, or because of the weird way she's being seen.

Enough of my own rants. What is beauty to you? Let's ponder and reflect.
May Allah bless....

Supplements, Pills… and Health

2011-01-09T22:33:00.001+08:00

Bottles upon bottles of pills. Some gel-like, others small, and some are huge. Variety. Of different colours, too. She took them, one by one, swallowing them faithfully.

No, don’t worry. She’s not a drug addict. Nor is she on slimming pills, frantically trying to loose weigh.

She had have a fever. It had been almost a week now, and the fever does not really seem to improve, sadly. Supplements? She took four different kinds. Drugs? Well, she went to see her physician and got plenty.

That night, as she faithfully took some pills and drank them with water, a thought dawned on her. Pills can never make her better. She had been mistakenly pining her hopes upon them.

What? Then what about all the medications that had been prescribed by doctors every day, and taken by so many people throughout the world? They cannot make people better? Then what’s the purpose of Pharmacists? What about all the Pharmacies and Pharmaceutical companies everywhere?

Hold it… That is not exactly what I mean.

As a health science student, I learned all about mechanisms of actions of drugs, the types, effectiveness and so on and so forth.

What this girl realised is, that no matter how much drug she took, no matter how many different supplements she had, only her Creator was able to make her better. That, she had somehow forgotten.

So… are the pills useless? Absolutely not. But they are just tools that we use, in order to try and get better. At the end of the day, if she had indeed recovered, it is only with the help of Allah. Although she did try numerous means to get well.

A very important thing to remember, that no matter what, ONLY IN ALLAH SHOULD WE PIN OUR HOPES. Hopes to be happy, to get well, to get a job, to get good spouses, and so much more.

Yes, put our hope on HIM, and HE alone will help you get better. Because no matter how good a drug is, or how effective a herb is for the pain you face, only Allah can make them work for you. Only Allah can defeat the bacteria or virus that is attacking your body. When our defence system is weak, only Allah can help make them strong again.

You don’t trust HIM? Then who can you trust? Because at the end of the day, in reality, Allah had indeed created you. Every single cell of your body. He knows, everything. Everything that goes into our body and out of it.

Turn to Allah. Not only at times of sickness. But turn to Allah for everything. In every phase of life. For no matter what, HE knows best.

Put hope in Him, pray, read the Quran, make zikrullah, and remember Allah, day and nights. By the way… al-Quran is one of the best medication available. It reconnects us to our Creator, and Sustainar.

~Sorry… an update that is long overdue from me. Hope this is up to your expectation. And most of all, I hope this serves as a reminder to you, and me.

May Allah bless.

The Three Heroes Who Failed

2010-12-03T12:40:00.004+08:00

I was browsing through an old book of mine, and found this hadeeth (from Sahih Muslim):

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:

[The first hero]
   Certainly, the first person who will be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be a Shaheed (matyr). He will be brought before Allah, Who will then list the favors which were bestowed upon him (in the world), and the Shaheed will recognize them. Then (Allah) will ask, "What did you do with them?"
   He will reply, "I fought in Your cause and die as a Shaheed."
   But Allah will say, "You're lying. You only fought so people would call you brave, and so they said it."
   Then the command will be issued and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hellfire.

[The second hero]
   Then a person who acquired and taught knowledge and recited the Quran will be brought before Allah, Who will remind the person of the blessings (he received) and he will recognize them. Then Allah will ask, "What did you do with them?"
   He will reply, "I acquired and taught knowledge and recited the Quran for Your sake."
   But Allah will say, "You're lying. You acquired knowledge only so people would call you a scholar and you recited the Quran only so they would call you a reciter, and so you were."
   Then the command will be issued and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hellfire.

[The third hero]
   Then a person whom Allah had made influential and who was given riches would be brought forward and informed about the favours he received, and he will recognize them. Then Allah will ask, "What did you do with them?"
   He will reply, "I donated in every cause for You would have wanted me to."
   Allah will say, "You're lying. You only donated so that people would call you generous, and so they said it."
   Then the command will be issued and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hellfire.

To sum it up all together, which of these heroes benefit from their efforts? Sure, they gain popularity and publicity in the Earth, but is it worth it? At the end of the day, although they seem to be doing good and noble acts, fighting for Islam, taught knowledge, recite the Quran, and donate to good causes, they fail to achieve happy ending in front of Allah.

Why so? Because the intentions of these men are not solely for Allah's sake. Hence, in spite of all their efforts and time, they are not rewarded in the next life.

Let us reflect back at our own life. We study, work all day, donate our time, money and efforts on good causes, but is it really for His sake? Or do we have, hidden deep inside, a hidden desire to become popular, rich or to show off? Let us check our intentions. Check our hearts. For our actions will be useless, unfortunately, had they not been for Allah alone. Sure, you might get good positions, be world-renown in this earth, but this world is a temporary abode, and the hereafter is forever. Never forget that vital fact.

"Verily the hereafter is better to you than the present." (ad-Dhuha:4)

Here's a du'a that we should recite often, as a safety measure to protect ourselves from misguided intentions..

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught Abu Bakr a supplication by which we can ask Allah forgiveness when insincerity strikes us unawares. He instructed him to say: "O Allah! I seek refuge with you from associating partners with you knowingly and I seek your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly." [al-Bukhari]

What steps should you take in ensuring that your intentions remain pure? Do share! I'll write more regarding intentions in other posts, insyaALlah...

Source of Hadeeth: taken from What Islam is All About, by Yahya Emerick [original source: Sahih Muslim]

Trials and Tribulations

2010-11-26T16:36:00.000+08:00

Troubles come and go. Sometimes it piles up, one on top of the other. At times, it feels like one cannot take it anymore. Sometimes, one just lets everything go. Shut down. Hibernate. Call it whatever you want. This is what happens, I guess.

But Allah is always there. Waiting for us to get back to him. Patiently, He waits. With gentle reminders, time and time again. "Get back on track." He whispers. A sudden, unexpected question from a friend. A timely sharing of article from another. A sudden drive to do what was obviously wrong, which works as though someone had just dumped a bucket of cold water on your face (the simile is weird, but yeah, that's how it seems).

All along, a flashing red light keeps sending warning signals inside my head. One that would have been noticed easily, had this girl been alright in the first place. Yet she keeps suppressing them, covering her eyes from the reality. "Ignore them. You're facing too much already as it is."

Yeah, that was the case, till a few days ago. Hence the hiatus. From blogging, from being the old me.

I snapped out of it, Alhamdulillah, with Allah's help. He pulled me through. Though everything is not completely over, it is indeed a much needed start. Have had a lot of damage control that needs to be done, though. A heart in need of repair. Thoughts to sort out, priorities to be set. And a multitude of repentance to Him, for time wasted, for neglecting to turn to Him in healing my wound.

But Alhamdulillah. Thank You Allah. For giving me the opportunity to go to the meet in that house up the hill. Where they had, unintentionally, reminded me, again and again, of my little heart that had been neglected. Thank You, Allah. For sending my old pal to hear me out. To tell me everything will be fine. Even though she had to lend her ears at midnight, when everyone else was asleep. When she had to wake up extremely early the next day. Most of all… thank You, Allah. For showing me the way, guiding me, puling me back, again and again, to the right way, when I stumble and fall.

Trials and tribulations come and go. Hopefully, the next time they come, I won't break down like I had this time. Hopefully, the next time they come, I turn to Him first, instead of wasting a whole lot of time dealing with them with my emotions. Next time, hopefully, I checked my connections with Allah in my heart first, before dealing with it any other way.

Need to check my heart... how is its connections with Allah??

Next time anything comes up, I hope, I can remember this verse:

"Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! verily the help of Allah is (always) near." (al-Baqarah: 214)

Yeah, life in this world is full of tests. Otherwise, how will we be able to gain Jannah?

Allah knows what's best for us. Always. And He knows, what is going on with our life. More than we do, actually.

This time round, Allah had shown me, again and again, that He is most Merciful. Apparently I forgot that, too… (yeah, it is so easy to say them. But when it boils down to the need to understand them in my heart, I forget, sometimes.)

"Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (az-Zumar: 53)

Sharing this for anyone who is going through the same thing. May Allah guide us, and help us all remain in the right path, no matter what comes our way. Writing this down, so that I can be reminded again in the future, too. If there comes a time when the going gets rough. And sharing this, so that each of us are reminded. That we have an important duty as a friend: to help our friends out when they face with difficulties. No, not in terms of money, but even lending an ear to listen to their woes helps a lot. If you are far away, or when you are nearby, send them a prayer once a while. It makes a whole lot of difference to a person. Indeed.

May Allah guide us all. For without His guidance, we are nothing, nothing at all…

I might be talking in a riddle, today. But I hope the message got through, anyway.

May Allah bless.

~ English: Pronunciation Test and some... ~

2010-11-17T20:12:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum everyone...

First of all... forgive me for leaving this blog in a hiatus for so long.. will try and update some stuff soon, insyaALlah. I'm currently writing up an article, so it will be posted soon, insyaAllah.

Meanwhile, to all Muslim friends, blog readers and followers, here's something for you:

and here's something a senior of mine posted on facebook the other day, which I found to be very interesting. An English pronunciation test, which was first found on a British newspaper (no credits goes to me, evidently! I'm just sharing it with you..)

I take it you already know

Of tough and bough, and cough and dough?

Some may stumble, but not you,

On hiccough, thorough, slough and through?

So now you are ready, perhaps,

To learn a less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word

That looks like beard and sounds like bird.

And dead, it's said like bed not bead;

For goodness' sake, don't call it deed!

Watch out for meat and great and threat.

(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.)

A moth is not a moth in mother,

Nor both in bother, broth in brother.

Can you pronounce the bold-ed words correctly?

If so, hurrah for you!

If not, check the dictionary for further explanation.

Haha, enjoy.!

Hope you enjoyed that. I had. ^^

May Allah bless

Count Your Blessings!

2010-10-21T16:18:00.000+08:00

I did not go to my practical clinic session today. I had a headache. Some sort of fever, and very runny nose. It's been on and of for a while, around ten days, perhaps. But some days are indeed worse than others. Well, today seems like one of the bad days...

With my head pounding, it gets me thinking of the days. The days when I am healthy and energetic. Well, looking back, I feel bad. Because I often forget to thank ALlah for the many days I am well. I did not utilize the time He gave me being healthy, to its maximum. Caught guilty, indeed.

In a way, although being sick is not nice, it serves as a sharp reminder. A reminder to utilize time to the fullest. A reminder, to count your blessings, and really thank The Most Gracious for them. A reminder, that we are indeed so fragile, and so weak, that we do really need Allah at every step of the way.

I'm reminded of a hadeeth (not the exact translation):

Remember five before five: the times you are healthy, before you are sick. The times you are young, before old. When you are rich, before you are poor. The times you are free, before you are busy. And life, before your death.

I actually have a lot to do...just to reflect for a while. Hoping for your du'as.

Going back to my piles of assignments and study (exam is coming up!).

May Allah bless. Assalamualaikum...

Jamuan Raya... Do forgive me!

2010-10-07T23:00:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum....

I didn't go. so sorry to let you guys down. I know, it is indeed the last year we'll enjoy Hari Raya together as students, hence the last jamuan Raya as a class, too. But can't go. Because to me it didn't seem right.

Lasting memories..
Thanks a lot everyone!
Love u all, for HIS sake...

Yeah, it does not seem right. To my principles, at least. Of what I understand of how Allah allows me to deal with different genders. Yes, I know, my views might be rigid. Yet this is what I hold on to, since I was in school. What I try to uphold, despite failing to do so, many times these years in university.

What is it that I try to hold on to? That Allah s.w.t.'s words "do not come near zina" entails me to limit my communication with the opposite gender. No, not that I cannot be friends with men, but I try to deal with men, when required. This does not mean that I don't care what happens to my classmates of the different gender. I do care. But it means limiting unnecessary talks, discussions, and laughter. This is how I understand, from my teachers and parents, since form 3. This, is where I learn and draw my own guideline to my social rules.

As I said, I failed so many times already. No one else's fault but mine, of course. The chatterbox who enjoys chatting to people, and laugh quite often, too. Yet I tried my hardest to stay true to this principle. Truth be told, each time I realized I went way overboard (in my own view) I was sad. Really sad.

Thus I decide not to come. Not because I care not. Not because of the many loads of assignments (oh, I know, you have as much as I do, if not more!). I love all of you, a lot. I wish to spend time with you guys too, share and build up memories of the times we have together as classmates. But to me the Jamuan is against my principles, and I believe that Allah does not allow me to be part of it. I have so many faults, that I dare not pile them up, and get Allah angry.

Forgive me! and I love you all, and I pray, that Allah will give all of us, you and me, happiness and blessings, here and in the next life.

Let us try our fullest to live the way he wants, and love HIM, above all else.

May ALlah bless!

Remember Them??

2010-09-22T21:05:00.001+08:00

Reminded. About them again. I had wanted to do so much, but sometimes time just keep flying by. So now I managed to wirte something, alhamdulillah... for me to remind MYSELF, first of all, and also for you. For us to ACT, not just talk. As a brother once said... let's walk the talk. Yes, as you have seen from the picture below, let us remember them. The Palestinians, and the siege imposed on them.

On Gaza crisis:

"it's far beyond humanitarian. It's much more serious. You can address a humanitarian crisis with medicines and food; this is far more serious. It's a crisis of the economy first of all -- people are very poor. It's a crisis of the institutions and it's a crisis of the infrastructure. This requires years to fix." - Filippo Grandi, commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA)

Don't forget them. Not now, when we are happy celebrating Eid (still). Not when we are blessed with happiness. Neither when we are busy with our day-to-day activities of classes or work. Nor when we are faced with difficulty and challenges. For in reality, they are suffering more. So much more. Do your part!

1. Boycott!!

- movies (Hollywood ones, esoecially)

- Fast food chains (there are listed elsewhere)

- Bags, clothes, accessories

- Food and other stuff associated with Zionists

2. Pray!! (Du'aa)

Pray for these innocent kids... who face difficulty every day,
studying with the lack of papers... of books.

Pray for the toddlers who are forced to stay thirsty due to the lack of clean water

Pray for the babies, who lost their fathers and mothers in bombings and prisons

Pray for them, the Palestinians.

That they may be freed from the open prison of endless walls

They are human beings too, with dreams, families, love, and a hope for peace

Most importantly, they are our brothers and sisters.

Pray for the safety of the third Masjid, Masjidil Aqsa

To be safe from the hands of Zionists

To be sturdy through the deceit and lies

The bombs, and tunnels they plan.

3. Spread the words.

The fight against Zionists, and the cruelty faced by Palestinians which is blatantly, inhumanely done. Write. Tell your friends. Organize campaigns in your area.

4. DONATE! what you can.

Use the money you usually spend elsewhere (for Starbuck coffee or the movies, perhaps?) and donate to humanitarian aid fighting to end the Palestinian siege. You can donate to:

Lifeline 4 Gaza: Second Freedom Flotilla

Account name : “TABUNG PALESTIN HALUAN”
Account number : 5644 9020 8528
Bank : Maybank Berhad

Eid Mubarak Everyone!!

2010-09-13T11:03:00.000+08:00

To the followers and blog readers...
Eid Mubarak! (sorry for the late wish)

and forgive me for the lateness in updates, and any other mistakes I made.
btw... feel free to comment so that I can improve my writing.

may Allah bless you all....

~humayra_solehah~

Favorite Hadeeth

2010-09-05T23:14:00.002+08:00

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Tonight is already 27th Ramadhan. How time zoom past, so very fast. Tonight is another night.. another night to at, date with The Creator. To search for the special night that is better than 1000 months, lailatul qadr. not only that, but also to utilize the last few days of Ramadhan to its maximum, and attempt to gain its full benefit.

Today I would just like to share a lovely hadeeth, regarding our relationship to ALlah. Indeed, it is one of my favorite hadeeth, for it shows how much Allah, our Creator, Benefactor and Sustainer loves us, even though we had done so many mistakes. He loves us, and is willing to be close to us, if only we attempt at getting close to Him.

Hadeeth Qudsi:

I treat my servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My 'heart'; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far greater than that gathering; if he draws near Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length; if he draws near Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fanthom's length; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.

(Bukhari, Muslim)

a superb hadeeth, isn't it. So why hesitate? why is it so hard to take the first step towards gaining Allah's love? InsyaAllah, He will be there for you, if only you make ready a place for Him in your heart. The highest, most important spot in your heart.

Let us all attempt, seriously try to ensure, that that top, priority spot in our heart, belongs to Him. So that we love Him, more than all else. Yes, only He deserves it, no one else does.

Try aiming for that, especially for the few days left of Ramadhan. Let's be true servants, loving Him, above all else.

May Allah bless.

Technology Anyone??

2010-08-28T11:12:00.007+08:00

Just thought of this...

Technology is nice, makes a lot of things easy for us. But then again...

Now we need to rely on handphones to call our friends, cause we almost never memorize thir numbers.

Now we keep in touch via emails and social networking sites, but they require so little effort, and less personal, too, compared to letters.

Now every spare second we have, we spend in front of laptops and PCs, what happen to other hobbies and interests?

Now we can go to so many places and not get lost, due to GPS and all, but I'm very much afraid, soon we would surely be lost without them.

Sometimes technology helps. But at times, they make things too easy, that we use our brain less.

Ever wondered, what would happen if our handphone is lost?

Now would we survive if the laptop crashed?

What about if the earth's natural resources are finished? Would we survive then? What would we do with our time? (that is spent so much in front of computers, play station, i-pads and i-phones, handphones...)

Is technology everything to you?

Will we be able to lead a normal life without technology?

BEWARE if you think you can't.

Be careful if you depend on technology, rely solely on technology.

For you've to be careful, that reliance you have, might be more than reliance to the Creator of man

The owner of all knowledge, including technology.

I'm not an anti-tech, but one does have to find ways to navigate life, so that technology doesn't become everything. It is alright if Islam be everything for us, and we will perform outstanding in life. But if, instead of Allah, we rely on technology more - then beware. For if technology breaks down, or disaster strikes, we will break down as well. Check our thoughts and iman, which matters more in ourselves. If you hold on to technology only as another tool in life to become a better servant to Allah, then it is alright. But if you see that everything MUST revolve around technology, then do re-think and set your mindsetting again, for Allah can take all the superb technology away from is in a matter of seconds if He wants to. He had proven that He can do so, again and again.

And how many a generation We have destroyed before them, who were stronger in power than them, and (when Our Torment came) they ran for a refuge in the land! Could they find any place of refuge (for them to save themselves from destruction)? [Qaf: 36]

Nations of the past have been destroyed because they defy Allah's orders, and made partners to Allah.  Never think that with technology, we are getting so advance, that we can rely on technology alone.  For no matter what, Allah is always more powerful.  No matter what, at the end of the day, mankind still needs Allah to turn to, for his problems, for guidance.  Most importantly, at the end, we will still return to Him.

~random thoughts.. but i guess, it is worth to ponder. and do find ways to exercise the brain, though. By memorizing the Quran, studying and learning new things [learn new skills, try variety of things too, for they sharpen numerous skills - not just sitting in front of the laptop]. Be thankful for the benifits of technology, but don't get carried away with them. On top of that, do re-check our heart. Is Allah at the top list, or technology, or.. other people?

sorry for the un-organized post. first i decided to make this short, but it suddenly expanded, and expanded some more...

May Allah bless...

pic source:
1. http://www.usfst.com/media/focus-area-images/FSTUS/issues-9-1/Technology_management_LG_FOC.png
2. http://www.usyd.edu.au/images/content/cws/news/newsevents/articles/2005/sep/petra.jpeg

Assignment and Reflection

2010-08-13T20:46:00.001+08:00

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, most Merciful,

A short post this time round... but something, I hope, that would be worthwhile to ponder, process, and condition our hearts to.

I was writing my assignment regarding patient-practitioner relationship. I typed in: "A vital ingredient in any successful relationship is trust..." and suddenly thought of the most important relationship of my life. Not only mine, but everyone's, actually. Our relationship with our Creator and Sustainer, Allah.

Hence a vital ingredient of success in our relationship with Allah is trust. Trust, that He is the One, who we can always rely on, ever second of the day. Trust, that Allah, with His never-ending love for His servants, would never give us any tests we are unable to face. Trust, that Allah is always ready to assist us through everything that happen in our sometimes-complicated life. Last but not least, trust that He will always protect His servants, and He is the best protector at all times.

Let us check our hearts, and question ourselves... how is our relationship with Allah? Do we trust Him? Do we trust Allah most, or do we trust people more than Him? Do we rely more on our parents to grant us happiness, or do we rely on Allah to give happiness? Or... do we hope for happiness more from that special someone in our lives? Who do we hope for security and protection? Do we hope He will save us from harm, or do we trust more on the locks on our doors, grills on our windows, or that CCTV down in the hallway?

Let us instill this trust in ourselves, just like the Prophet and his companions had in the past. When Abu Bakr r.a gave all of his money for Allah's sake, to be spent for the preparation of a battle between the kuffar and the Muslims, the Prophet PBUH asked him: "what have you left for your wife and children?" what is his answer? I left Allah and his angels to protect my family". This is the answer from a true believer. His trust in Allah is so much, that he leave his family solely to Allah.

Alhamdulillah, we manage to reach this stage. Entering into this factory called Ramadhan. A valuable opportunity to be processed to become better people, better servants to our Lord, and increase our sensitivity to the poor and needy. Let us use the opportunity to be in this Ramadhan University, to learn to trust Allah more. Condition our hearts to improve our relationship with Him... so that His redha will be with us, until we meet Him in the next life...

Ramadhan Kareem everyone! may this Ramadhan brings all of us closer to Allah, and increase our imaan and taqwa. Welcome to the month full of barakah and rahmah!

pics credits to: http://xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com/ , http://iloveallahandrasulullah.blogspot.com/, http://theultimatestanding.blogspot.com/