They leave but do they come back?

[copied from Yasmin Mogahed's]



Leaving is hard. Losing is harder. So a few weeks ago I asked the question, ‘why do people have to leave each other?’ The answer took me into some of my life’s deepest realizations and struggles. But it has also led me to wonder: After people leave, do they ever return? After something we love is taken from us, does it ever come back? Is loss permanent—or just a means for a higher purpose? Is loss the End itself, or a temporary cure for our heart’s ailments?

There’s something amazing about this life. The very same worldly attribute that causes us pain is also what gives us relief: Nothing here lasts. What does that mean? It means that the breathtakingly beautiful rose in my vase will wither tomorrow. It means that my youth will neglect me. But it also means that the sadness I feel today will change tomorrow. My pain will die. My laughter won’t last forever—but neither will my tears. We say this life isn’t perfect. And it isn’t. It isn’t perfectly good. But, it also isn’t perfectly bad, either.

Allah (glorified is He) tells us in a very profound ayah (verse): “Verily with hardship comes ease.” (Qur’an, 94:5). Growing up I think I understood this ayah wrongly. I used to think it meant: after hardship comes ease. In other words, I thought life was made up of good times and bad times. After the bad times, come the good times. I thought this as if life was either all good or all bad. But that is not what the ayah is saying. The ayah is saying WITH hardship comes ease. The ease is at the same time as the hardship. This means that nothing in this life is ever all bad (or all good). In every bad situation we’re in, there is always something to be grateful for. With hardship, Allah also gives us the strength and patience to bear it.

If we study the difficult times in our lives, we will see that they were also filled with much good. The question is – which do we chose to focus on? I think the trap we fall into is rooted in this false belief that this life can be perfect—perfectly good or perfectly bad. But that’s not the nature of dunya (this life). That’s the nature of the hereafter. The hereafter is saved for the perfection of things. Jannah (paradise) is perfectly and completely good. There is no bad in it. And Jahannam (hell – may Allah protect us) is perfectly and completely bad. There is no good in it.

By not truly understanding this reality, I myself would become consumed by the momentary circumstances of my life (whether good or bad). I experienced each situation in its’ full intensity—as if it was ultimate or would never end. The way I was feeling at the moment transformed the whole world and everything in it. If I was happy in that moment, past and present, near and far, the entire universe was good for that moment. As if perfection could exist here. And the same happened with bad things. A negative state consumed everything. It became the whole world, past and present, the entire universe was bad for that moment. Because it became my entire universe, I could see nothing outside of it. Nothing else existed for that moment. If you wronged me today, it was because you no longer cared about me—not because this was one moment of a string of infinite moments which happened to be tinted that way, or because you and I and this life just aren’t perfect. What I was experiencing or feelings at that instant replaced context, because it replaced my entire vision of the world.

I think in our experiential nature, some of us may be especially susceptible to this. Perhaps that is the reason we can fall prey to the “I’ve never seen good from you” phenomenon which the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) referred to in his hadith. Perhaps some of us say or feel this way because at that moment, experientially we really haven’t seen good, because our feeling at that instant replaces, defines and becomes everything. Past and present becomes rolled up into one experiential moment.

But, the true realization that nothing is complete in this life transforms our experience of it. We suddenly stop being consumed by moments. In the understanding that nothing is limitless here, that nothing here is kamil (perfect, complete), Allah enables us to step outside of moments and see them for what they are: not universes, not Reality, past and present, just that—a single moment in a string of infinite moments…and that they too shall pass.

When I cry or lose or bruise, so long as I am still alive, nothing is ultimate. So long as there is still a tomorrow, a next moment, there is hope, there is change, there is redemption. What is lost, is not lost forever.

So in answering the question of whether what is lost comes back, I study the most beautiful examples.  Did Yusuf return to his father? Did Musa return to his mother? Did Hajar return to Ibrahim? Did health, wealth and children return to Ayoub? From these stories we learn a powerful and beautiful lesson: what is taken by Allah is never lost. In fact, it is only what is with Allah that remains. Everything else vanishes. Allah (swt) says, “What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions.” (Quran 16:96)

So, all that is with Allah, is never lost. In fact the Prophet ﷺ has said: “You will never give up a thing for the sake of Allah (swt), but that Allah will replace it for you with something that is better for you than it.” (Ahmad) Did not Allah take the husband of Umm Salimah, only to replace him with the Prophet ﷺ?

Sometimes Allah takes in order to give. But, it’s crucial to understand that His giving is not always in the form we think we want. He knows best what is best. Allah says: “… But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not.” (Quran 2:216)

But if something is going to be returned in one form or another, why is it taken at all? Subhan’Allah. It is in the process of ‘losing’ that we are given.

Allah gives us gifts. But then we often become dependent on those gifts, instead of Him. When He gives us money, we depend on the money—not Him. When He gives us people, we depend on people—not Him. When He gives us status or power, we depend on, and become distracted by these things. When Allah gives us health, we become deceived. We think we will never die.

Allah gives us gifts, but then we come to love them as we should only love Him. We take those gifts and inject them into our hearts, until they take over. Soon we cannot live without them. Every waking moment is spent in contemplation of them, in submission and worship to them. The mind and the heart that was created by Allah, for Allah, becomes the property of someone or something else. And then the fear comes. The fear of loss begins to cripple us. The gift—that should have remained in our hands—takes over our heart, so the fear of losing it consumes us. Soon, what was once a gift becomes a weapon of torture and a prison of our own making. How can we be freed of this? At times, in His infinite mercy, Allah frees us…by taking it away.

As a result of it being taken, we turn to Allah wholeheartedly. In that desperation and need, we ask, we beg, we pray. Through the loss, we reach a level of sincerity and humility and dependence on Him which we would otherwise not reach—had it not been taken from us. Through the loss, our hearts turn entirely to face Him.

What happens when you first give a child a toy or the new video game he’s always wanted? He becomes consumed by it. Soon he wants to do nothing else. He sees nothing else. He doesn’t want to do his work or even eat. He’s hypnotized to his own detriment. So what do you do, as a loving parent? Do you leave him to drown in his addiction and complete loss of focus and balance? No.

You take it away.

Then, once the child has regained focus of his priorities, regained sanity and balance, once things are put in their proper place in his heart and mind and life, what happens? You give the gift back. Or perhaps something better. But this time, the gift is no longer in his heart. It is in its proper place. It is in his hand.

Yet in that process of taking, the most important thing happened. The losing and regaining of the gift is inconsequential. The taking of your heedlessness, your dependence and focus on other than Him, and the replacing it with remembrance, dependence and focus only on Him was the real gift. Allah withholds to give.

And so sometimes, the ‘something better’ is the greatest gift: nearnesss to Him. Allah took the daughter of Malik Ibn Dinar in order to save him. He took his daughter, but replaced her with protection from the hell-fire and salvation from a painful life of sin and distance from Him. Through the loss of his daughter, Malik ibn Dinar was blessed with a life spent in nearness to Allah. And even that which was taken (his daughter) would remain with Malik ibn Dinar forever in Jannah.

Ibn ul Qayyim (may Allah be pleased with him) speaks about this phenomenon in his book, Madarij Al Salikin. He says: “The divine decree related to the believer is always a bounty, even if it is in the form of withholding (something that is desired); and it is a blessing, even if it appears to be a trial and an affliction that has befallen him; it is in reality a cure, even though it appears to be a disease!”

So to the question, ‘once something is lost, does it return?’ the answer is yes. It returns. Sometimes here, sometime there, sometimes in a different, better form. But the greatest gift lies beneath the taking and the returning. Allah tells us: “Say, ‘In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they hoard.’” (Quran, 10:58)


SOURCE

what we may not know

It's in the module of "life"

heartful-heartless-heartful......

I used to love this quote!

words are just manipulation of letters

*nods*

for some reason I reckon not everyone boards the same train [ though I may be judgy but a fact is still a fact]

No Rewinds

Subject Error&Contrastive Analysis






tangkap je gmbr slideshow,senang ^^



bulan yang terang dari pintu bilik 1.8 :)

bangunan Azman Hashim, ayahnya Mizz Nina tu...

paling best kat UIA time ummatic week ialah makan2 free macam gini....makanan dari banyak negara :D

study subjek arab di masjid syakirin klcc bersama eldee....amboi jauhnya!







*gmbr2 tiada kaitan dengan entry*

So I've been reading this novel "House Rules" as I ranted earlier. You know, where one of the characters has Asperger's Syndrome  [no I don't,watcha talkin' 'bout? ]

Here's the thing, I've always had so much passion in things regarding the brain. [cite2 dari dalam rahim mahu menjadi brain surgeon tsk2, sekarang dah jauhhhh benor melencong, xpe,He knows best ^^]. When we were required to take four Human Sciences subjects for course requirement, Psychology was my first choice, then Mass Comm, then Politikus Science,then History  [ a waste of time, why didn't I take Soca wai?!!!!]

Anyways, the condition in that class was a bit pathetic. There were around 50 plus students if not mistaken squeezing into that supposed to be big Lecture Theatre and unfortunately I'd be among the late-comers to that class because I had a class before that and it was far away so it took around 10 minutes to reach  [with maximum speed of walking that is! ]

So, being the late-comers mean I had to sit way up high the LT, the lecturer was a soft-spoken female lecturer which throughout the semester I could barely hear her voice plus the loud noises coming from the brothers. So, I just had to rely on my book and the fast-est slide show presentation in front.

But, the subject was interesting, I got to learn so many things like sleep apnea, all those disorders, OCD,CDD, etc2 on it's basic parts je lah. Some psych father figures that I can still remember would be Wilhelm Wundt,Sigmund Freud, Ivan Pavlov,Carl Jung....ok sampai situ je ingat sebab ambik subjek ni waktu first year T_T

*scroll balik atas rupa2nya dah lari topik*

Coming back to the book. Jacob has AS . He's 18 and has the perfect figure of a macho teen except his mind can't function like one. He has like super intelligent brain. Among the traits of him that would generalize an AS patient would be:

-takes thing in their literal meaning.  [e.g: "I'm going to die" (jokingly]  but they will understand it as real]

-extreme obsession over organized stuffs. Everything must be placed in order, perfectly

-avoids eye contact and hates being touched

-has no clue of body language and normal human emotions

-hates loud voices

-having plans change  [ so everyday activities must be followed exactly as planned]

the colour orange  [ this one is quite confusing because the character in My Name is Khan hated yellow]

-social interactions

-can experience "meltdowns" or goes into an extreme "rage"

Those are among the traits I've came across. I've never met anyone with AS before. AS is also a type of autism if not mistaken. Once, in my uni, I had a classmate who had "Schizophrenia". She was quite a bright student,always asking questions to the lecturers eventhough sometimes it had no relations with the subject whatsoever. I didn't know she had Skitz but I noticed she was different. Sometimes she talks to herself, smiles and giggles. I thought she was a bit "pagal"  [ish3 xbaik!] and eventually someone told me she had Skitz. She was nice though :). REMEMBER,don't look down upon people like them, they are human beings like us as well. And there shouldn't be this overgeneralization of who's normal and who's not. Who knows, today is their time...later on, us? na'uzubillah~~~~

Ok, I'm not even sure what I wanted to write actually. Sometimes here sometimes there. Prolly, me, myself am out of my mind. I just wanted to write something.

Hope you guys enjoyed being confused reading my post for today...haha

I need to re-read some research papers and understand how to write nicely. Intro- body paragraph-conclusion. Missing my good old days, again!

Ai Iz E konfiuzed Wan! :D

toddles~

salam~~

Modesty

"Abdullah ibn Mas'ud relates that one day the Prophet said, 'Be shy of Allah (God) Most High as much as is His due.' The companions present said, 'All praise to Allah, we are shy of Him.' The Prophet said, 'That is not the point. Whoever is shy of Allah as much as is His due, he should protect his head and that which it comprises (i.e. mind, mouth, ears), his stomach and that which is adjoining it (i.e. preserve it from unlawful wealth and protect the private parts from the unlawful), and he should remember death and that which is to come after it; and whoever desires the Hereafter should abandon the adornments of this world. Whoever fulfills these duties has been shy of Allah as much as is His due.'" (Musnad Ahmad)

Today I want to talk a little bit about modesty. Defining the term according to my personal lexicon would akin to moderate/down to earth, humble....orang melayu kata "besederhana"

This word is tough, both in meaning and practice. Easy said than done, easy done than maintaining it.

Just look around us, what do people don't show? qualifications? wealth? social status? assuming that we act, walk,talk, wear something better than others? even the high level of 'knowledge' that we may have as compared to others in whatever significant field. Ok, don't look so far, just look into ourselves..... [let's do some reality check shall we?]

As I recall back some of the people that I can still remember from my past, one thing I could line out from all of them. Their natural feature of being a modest person. Some are too humble even though they score like crazily high in exams, some keep their wealthy family's background a secret, some who wears simple same fashion from the first time I met until the end, the ones who appear rough but actually has a soft hard, the ones who'd buy extra fish at the cafeteria just to feed the stray cats around the mahallah, the ones who'd help out another person even though they are already tied to their schedule........those who have their unique way of portraying that act of kindness.

Personally, people who possess and could portray that feature could really catch my heart. Being modest and humble....it's something that I would love to see in people, to be and hope that everyone could be [to be or not to be, that is the question....shakespeare sikit].  By that, all of us could be a grateful human being for whatever we have and always remember to thank Him....the Possessor and Giver....thank you Allah =)

Let's be humble, be nice to people, be courteous, be grateful and many more of the mahmudah features ^^

Taf tapi bukan mustahil, chayok2 buat kita semua!!!

toddles~

salam~~

Zindagi ek safar

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

I just read late Mas Afzal's blog where his mom is now writing in it and I just couldn't help myself from not being inspired again and again. MashaAllah, such a soul. The picture where he performed his solah despite his condition was really awe inspiring.

Frankly speaking, I am so envious of him. He's physically no longer in this world but what he left behind seems to be his ongoing 'profit'. He has touched so many hearts, be it the people whom personally knew him or the ones who saw his video and read his writings  [I'm one of the thousands in this category]

So I ask myself; If my time came, how would I be remembered? what would I be remembered for? will I be remembered?

Abu Qataadah rahimahullaah reported that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "The best that a man can leave behind after his death are three things: a righteous child who makes du'aa for him, an ongoing sadaqah whose rewards continue to reach him, and a knowledge that continues to be implemented after him." (Ibn Maajah, and others. Verified to be sahih by al-Mundhiri and al-Albaanee).

Three. Only three will become our 'ongoing profit' in the hereafter. So which one will become my 'profit'? let's ask ourselves that question T_T

For a fact, I want to [and I should] live my life with a meaningful purpose. To continue being inspired and share a little bit of the inspirations with my everyone I know so we can benefit from the beautiful inspirations together.

Life in this world is not forever but we tend to act contradict to that fact,right? That's why we need to be reminded from time to time. We need to remind ourselves that life is short and there's 'somewhere' that we'll go after this and that 'somewhere' is an eternal resting place. Surely we want to have the best-est eternal resting place? :)

"Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned." (Al-Ankabut:57)

Allah.....Our sole creator. From Him we came and unto Him shall we return. So, it is unto Him we should seek help, forgiveness and to guide us to the right path.

Alas, let's make the best out of our life shall we? :)


EAR CANDY CATCHES TO THE SOUL :)  <--kelik lah

Wallahu 'alam.

toddles~

salam~~

No pain no gain

“Whenever we are inflicted with hardship, with tribulations, always believe in Allah s.w.t. Always believe that this is an opportunity for us to be closer to Allah s.w.t".   [quoting back Mas Afzal's words]


No matter how difficult,STRESSFuL, blurry, emotionless life we are experiencing right now, remember that someone else is having a difficult life than us and may be a lot worse than us so stop complaining and start living with grace [ehh?] and gratefulness.

Lean on Him:

"...Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne." [At-Taubah:129]


"...Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."  [Aali Imran:173]

well, not so dramatic like this tho :p

bersabarlah menunggu detik pulangmu :)

Just pause for a while and think of the happy things like:

see how "unstressful" this champ is?huahua

vain,totally!





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tadaaaaa!!!!

sate!sate!

p/s: Just so you know,I won't be around this weekend. Get Away.MIA
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toddles~

salam~~

"A tree was onCe a seed"

Clearly my Monday seems like a weekend because not so much works are (PT: were) given so I'm bored.

Anyways, I've decided to change my blog title as the above. Before, it was 'Sunoji Mere Dhost' [listen my friends]. Well, that title was so lame random.

"A tree was once a seed" 

A.K, hope you remember this exact spot :)

Two weeks back I went for a nice morning jog walk with my two naughty siblings and I saw all the big trees along the path and could not stop ponder how all those big trees were once a tiny seed. It's astonishing how that tiny seed turned out....or should I say, UP so tall and huge  [ yg pokok kerempeng maybe kurang zat besi]. And for surely, with Allah's will and power, it made it's way as a tree, shading us human from the bright sunny sunshine, oxygen excetera2. Life is also like that. You may begin with something little or at ZERO point but if you give your fullest effort to achieve a goal, inshaAllah you'll arrive to that success point regardless all odds.

[but,but..never forget surah 2 verse 216 ok ]

Another inspiration for me 

Can't deny the fact that I love and need to be inspired every now and then. And inspirations can come in all sorts of manners, it can be an inspiring person, story, or just by acknowledging existence [of anything].So do expect more inspiring stories rolling in here okay and hope we can take a lesson from it,inshaAllah =)

Hence, the title. The End

toddles~

salam~~

Inspiration [2]

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate

A continuation from : HERE

Just wanted to share this inspiring true story for our future reference

A friend of him wrote this in the comment section in his blog:

"I remember the last words uttered just before we last visited the night before he left the uk, 'if we do not meet again in this dunya we may meet in jannah inshallah'

Indeed the news of the death of my dear friend and class mate of 5 years (at Medical school) has brought great sadness yet Also comfort in the hope that inshallah he is now in much better place free from any pain, inshallah.

Having known Mas for the last 5 years studied together, lived together during some part of the final year and thus spent a lot of time together with him. I must confess how great of a person he was. Avery softly spoken person, who never offended anyone through his action or speech.he would always be there to helo and support whenever required. A regular attendee of the local Muslim welfare house and until his recent ill health would regularly make the long and steep journey from his house in Filey street to masjid even all alone in the. Early hours of the morning.

Even during this illness of his when talking to him I remember how strong willed he was always saying how ill health is a blessing from Allah and expiation from sins'and would bring a smoke to people around him who were disheartened by his illness yet never show any discontent or complain about his illness. He had such great trust and faith in the hands of Allah subhanallah....."

His mom wrote:

Assalamualaikum,

Mas Afzal passed away at 2.24am, 18th December, 2010. His papa, brother Andi, sisters Aiysha n Atiqah,uncle Shahrir n me were with him till he breathed his last. He was intubated and n in an induced coma from about 1pm the day earlier because he was having difficulty breathing n his Blood Pressure was getting very low.

Since he was admitted to the Ampang Hospital on December 2nd, he did not get any good night's sleep. Now, he can rest and wait for me n all of us to join him.

I thank Allah for letting me borrow him for the last 26 years. I am also thankful that Allah has given me n my family the opportunity to take care of him while he was in hospital.

Many of his friends visited him in hospital n he could recognise them all, even during the times when he was in a confused n sometimes delirious state because of the infection he suffered n the pure oxygen he was given.

He told me to make sure to wake him up if any of his friends came to visit. "I want to acknowledge their presence", he said. Actually I was surprised he could recognise all his friends who came despite the fact that he sometimes forgot that he was in hospital. At the end of visiting hours, I would ask him about his friends who came and he would describe to me who those friends are, what they were studying, how they met, what activities they have done together n so on. I could see he loved all his friends a lot.

I would always test him to see his state of mind by asking who I am..."Mama", he would always answer. Afzal did not sleep at all the whole night on Thursday and was either reciting versus from the Quran, performing prayers or doing the zikr throughout the night.I think he was trying to sort things out in his head n said whatever came to mind n since Quran versus were always close to his heart, those versus were among the things he blurted out. I was tired just looking at him but helpless to do anything, other than hold his hand, massage his back n stood by his side n by the graces of Allah, I did not feel sleepy at all throughout that night. By morning he was exhausted and all my efforts to make him stop n rest failed. The last hour before he was intubated, I kept testing him to see if he is still able to recognise me. Three times I asked him who I was. He would stop his blabbering and say "Mama".

N now, part of me is happy for him because he is no longer suffering but a larger part of me is missing him so much. My baby is no longer with me. I am no longer able to take care of him for he is now under a more capable carer.

I will always have the beautiful memories with Afzal, the moments together that only the two of us share...always.....Mama Afzal.

Truly inspiring.....

Move on

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

[bits and pieces of 'The Climb']



Inspired from the late Mas Afzal who....until his last breath succeeded in keeping his faith in Allah....inspiring so many people that no matter how life knocks you down, you've gotta keep moving on....with the life Allah has given you itself is a priceless gift.

With life and everything that Allah has lent me......alhamdulillah


Recharge and let's keep moving on! ^^

just a thought

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate

*no harms intended*

From Ibn Masood (ra) who said that the Prophet (sas) said:

“Among that which reached the people from the words of the earlier prophethood: If you feel no shame, then do whatever you wish.”
HR Bukhari, Kitab Adab, hadith no. 6120.

"If you don't have anything nice to say, remain silent"





Nowadays people think they have the power to express whatever they want freely and where's the best way to vent out everything? SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES

OK,clearly not the right person to be specifying this matter [hint, just read this blog as a start sometimes yapping non-sensically] but hey...I'm speaking out to myself as a reminder too :D,so bear with me on this ;)


"Some things are better kept within yourselves and you don't have to share it with the whole world to know". People would be either; 1) they sincerely care  2) they just wanna gossip  3) they are just curious


And that is a problem why?

Well, as a start.......when you start yapping about a situation you have been through and you stated it so negatively as if  [no, you indeed are] you are blaming someone for the predicament you had to face then people start to ask questions....then you go around the bushes.....flames become a big fire.....comes in all those nasty swearing words....comes in all those immature statements that somehow does not even relate to the first statement given and look where it will end you to? random people who have no other beneficial stuffs to do join along the party and the 'chain' continues.

Where did it get you to?

self-satisfaction?

a solution?

a peace of mind and heart?

or you just created a chain of sins and dragged everyone involved in the conversation with you ?



YES nobody can stop you from expressing your thoughts, but once in awhile, do try to THINK first before you express

Don't make people resent you but could not say anything at you because they know you'd make a big fuss out of it and twist it to something that would make you appear as the 'victim'

People 'tegur'  [ok I forgot what is tegur in english] you because they care....out of pure love for a human-being and if you could not take it positively, just don't blurt it out publicly because in the end, it'll just downgrade yourself infront of people....

Instead of asking for people's respect....TRY TO RESPECT YOURSELF first..................it's a start you know and a good one too =)


and let's TRY to have this feeling of SHAME towards Him....feel a little bit ashamed before you write,before you say,before you do and see what bad things you can avoid doing.

People help because they care and they ignored whatever bad things they know or heard about you so please,in return, try not to act so immaturely. Try to be grateful and respectful....towards Allah, towards yourselves and towards the people around you. You don't need to be a saint to do that....you just need to practice the virtues of a human,a person and on top of that, as a MUSLIM. 

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
[Surah Ibrahim: 7]


Again, as a reminder to me first and hopefully you can benefit a thing or two. 


Thank you for your time



peace!



toddles~

salam~~

Maal Hijrah

DOA AKHIR TAHUN DAN AWAL TAHUN


Alhamdulillah praises be to Allah for everything He has given up until now

We have entered a new year. 1 Muharram 1432 Hijrah

1431 Hijrah has been a very momentous year for me. A life turner. Just a little glimpse of the meaningful events that happened throughout the year:

April until July:
Graduated early
Visitted family in Manchess and stayed for around near 3 months
Bestie came to Manchess
Went to visit bestie in Dublin   [ okay, Ireland is a must explore country, noted!]
Got my first freelance job

August until October:
Launched a little translating/editing/proofreading service
Had the first interview experience but was rejected because I innocently blurted out my 2-3 years future plan [nak sambung buat Master....patut diam2 je] but I accept it as "not my rezeki"
Settled all the clearance matters and had a chance to visit friends in UIA for a couple of times but when you're no longer an official part of the system, you feel awkward and inferior
Had my Convocation Day
Applied for a freelancer position and did a test

October-December:
After 3 weeks, received an email saying I passed the test and there was an interview requirement so felt awkward because why need interviews for freelance works but it was on skype so no problemo
After the interview, I was offered a full-time position instead of freelance
Agreed due to the terms and everything as I wanted something that will last long [commitment wise]
Signed the agreement
Sort of online training using CAT tools 
Dinner party with the girls in ASIAH  [sweet memory of celebrating their graduation]

December:
Received first work on the 1st of December, very technical-ish and demanding in terms of dateline per day but managed to settle all by the end of the day.
First time meeting with the boss face2face on 5th of December
First time meeting with another colleague and worked in the temporary actual office in Menara Citibank [for a fresh graduate like me, the office was biggg and very exclusive...]
Will be working at the office until Friday inshaAllah before boss flies back to his country on Saturday

Alhamdulillah....I had to wait for awhile but at last, He gave me the best !


New year's resolution:

Work hard and be an expert on the tools I will be using   [inshaAllah]
Do Master with Allah's will
Be a better person in all aspects
Earn many money
DSLR
Weddingsssss  [ more and more friends and besties are getting married]
Take things one at a time and do it wonderfully I hope bi'iznillah
No need long list just do the best in whatever I do =)

Dear self:

Looking at the 1431 list ,you should be so grateful. For 1432, improve better OK?


So, everyone: Salam Maal Hijrah. May Allah bless us all ^^


toddles~

salam~~

Learn Grateful by heart

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate



In the middle of the night I started to think [well, it's actually 2.15 am ]:



As a human being, we have this natural habit of feeling dissatisfied once in a while. We receive something and in a blink of an eye, we want something more, better. The urge to 'want' something will never fade. Or maybe We have something but later on feel that "oh, this is boring,dull, I want to get rid of it ASAP!"....That is just how our system works, right?


"...This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous." (An:Naml: 40)



But, we always forget the One who runs the system.... For everything we received, there must be a giver, right? In the favor from Allah to his servants, it is a 'test' to evaluate how well we appreciate what is given.



"So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me". (Al-Baqarah: 152)

It is to Allah we should turn to, the Sole Creator. The One who has total power to give, hold or take back whatever is given.

But, how?

"O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient".
 (Al-Baqarah:153)

Never fail to hope from Allah, to pray, to give an effort that is worth the granting we are praying for....






But I've prayed hard enough, worked hard enough, settled with my one hope hard enough but I don't see any rewarding returns. Why is that so?


"But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not". (Al-Baqarah:216)




Educating the self to be a grateful person is hard especially when you see others having MORE and even BETTER [own assumption] that you. For a starter, let's try comparing to those who are less fortunate than us. Example: we are able to eat chicken everyday in a comfy environment but somewhere out there, people are killing among themselves just to get the flour distribution and don't have the perfect clean utensils to cook in and hardly having any luxurious side dishes. Not to mock the whole situation but to take a stop and ponder  " how wonderful my life as compared to X [whatever unpleasant] situation"......That should do the trick of learning how to be appreciative.


A whisper:

oh Allah, if I can't have what I want, then please let me want what I'll have and be grateful~


Still hard?


Who said life was easy?


Ups and downs, give and take, received and taken back from or even stagnant......it's all part of life and also  [an-Naml: 40]



Wallahu a'alam


toddles~

salam~~

Nak bagi ke taknak?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate


Question: Should I or Can I give charity to the needy people [read: bagi duit pada peminta sedekah]?


Answer:

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous".   (Al-Baqarah: 177)


In some situations, it is better to follow what your heart says instead of what others say [eg: xpayahlah bagi, nanti dapat pada sindiket,or beli dadah or..........]

For what is worth it, it may be your 'aiding shares'  or 'back-ups'  for your tour to eternal life~~~

It's your pick...

toddles~

salam~~

Life is also war,storm and flood

Bismillahirrohmanirrohim,

The north part of Malaysia is being tested with a heavy flood:

refer:  here

Happened to noticed some Muslim lad and lasses celebrating Halloween the other day.

Bribery here and there.

Ruthless killings here and there.

Dirty politics.

Now you do the maths.

Allah sends His 'signs' not to burden people out of their capabilities but to remind them [us] of how far we are from Him and what are we doing to ourselves.

Praise be to Him who did not send his 'signs' like the previous people where earth were sank to its root leaving only the believers.

Would we only realize if that day comes?

I am so ashamed of myself. Is this me being a vicegerent on earth?   [ let us all ask this question to ourselves]

Life on this earth is not forever. Gain everything [material] that you want, do anything that you want,but in the end when your turn is up to meet back the ground, you'll only bring with you your deeds. And what did you prepare for it?

May Allah ease their pains in the affected areas and also those in Indonesia whom are affected by the spewing volcano of 'Gunung Merapi', the Palestinians and everyone whom are battling with their life conditions. May Allah forgive us all, ameen

toddles~

salam~~

Light reading

Feelings In An Island iluvislam.com + discover the beauty of islam

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love.

One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island paradise until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help.

Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, can I come with you on your boat?" Richness answered, " I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity (megah diri) for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please." "I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry.

Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.

Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?" "It was Time", Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me when no one else would?", Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

the chain of good deeds

Bismillahirrohmanirrohim,

help those in need and He will help you even more,inshaAllah  [ picta from google]

Have you ever come across any actions done by complete strangers that you cannot forget?

Well, I have [ and I bet you have too ]...among them are;

a man who fed some stray cats near the surau in my neighbourhood....he fed them with those cat food and fed them a lot....I was totally amazed by his action...the cats even recognized him because he called them with names  [to say that he has done that for quite some time ]

a young lady who attended a blind man crossing the street...even walked him to his destination

a big brother who treated his three little siblings for lunch, treated them with patience, and even helped them finish their homework  [ happened to sit next to their table on that particular day ]

a 'pakcik jual nasik lemak' who gave free fried chicken and said "xpelah,ambiklah,rezeki cik/incik harini"  [no,I wasn't the only one who got it....hoho]

a stewardess who attended to one passenger who brought two little kids with her and entertained the elder child while the mother was feeding her little sister , she was very gentle and caressing

a sweet friend of mine who never gets tired of all the questions given by this one little girl  [ in this case,she's no stranger to me but just focus on the action ]

a lecturer who could give consultation to some students who were not even her students and basically she didn't even teach that particular subject

A little child in the park who picked up every 'thrash' he found and threw it in the dustbin [ nobody told him to do so]

a young man who gave his seat in the LRT to a woman with her child  [ YES,it's our responsibility to do so but seeing him very weary but still stood and offered his seat was just so amazing! ]

A friend who could give his/her help whenever needed without complaining or wanting anything back in return


All of these and many more are just real life lessons....lessons that ought to be taken as good examples for us [me] to follow. You don't need books nor attend classes to learn precious lessons like this. You just need to observe, then follow and show it to others and they would also follow and that chain of good deeds and good examples would prolong inshaAllah

"For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent".  [Al-Baqarah: 148 ]

till next time,

let's do good deeds, simple or extravagant kind of deeds doesn't matter, it is He who judges ^^

toddles~

salam~~