Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Being the Best to our Parents By Nouman Ali Khan
MashaAllah! Allocate 26 minutes today listening to this and I promise you InshaAllah, you'll get something to reflect before you go to bed tonight. :)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Why and How to Learn Arabic for Comprehension of the Quran - Nouman Ali ...
MashaAllah! I'm completely moved when listening to this!
Monday, December 13, 2010
In remembrance of Imam Hussein...
Salam alaykom,
Today I went to a remembrance ceremony for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at TTS. It was organized by a Shiites society. Well, actually I didn't plan to go there at first because it was so a random decision for me to attend this majlis.
All right, the story began like this...
After having dinner at SA building with my friend (sitting at the open air area and facing the lake, around 7 p.m), I waved at her as she went back by riding motorcycle. And, I went back into the SA to buy a bottle of drinking water.
After that, as I walked back towards my residence hall, suddenly I saw my Iranian friend from the distant, wearing black abaya. Well, as usual we will greet and hug each other, saying "How are you?", "Where do you wanna go?", stuff like that you know. And, she told me that she was going to attend a ceremony, in remembrance of Imam Hussein. And, she was waiting for her friends to pick her up from campus to TTS.
Since I could not control my excitement, I told her that how much I wanted to listen to the story of Imam Hussein. How did he become a martyr in Karbala. And I even told her that how I wish to cry while listening to this historical story! I've been wanting to know you know! All this while (these past 2 months), I just got the "smell" of it, but not the real taste. I mean about the story and certain things about Shiites faith.
So, she delightedly invited me to come to the ceremony and she really really welcomed me to join the majlis!
So, what was my reply?
Of course I wanna go! I was not that busy at that night and yeah...why not? The door was opened for me and I would never know when such opportunity will come to me again right? So, I just said to her that I wanna go and it just that I felt quite shy to follow her and I was afraid that the Shiites might feel awkward with my presence. But, again she really really welcomed me sincerely and Alhamdulillah after that we just had to wait a couple of minutes before her friends came to pick us up.
When we arrived there...
When we entered the house, the ceremony had just begun with the poem recital (it was played from radio or laptop, I'm not sure and it was in Urdu). So, we headed directly to a special room for the sisters and I met this one lady and my friend introduced me to her. She's a Pakistani or an Indian, I believe. After some time, the lecture began. But, it wasn't presented directly from a scholar but, it was a recorded one played from the laptop, I guess. Or the radio.
So, everyone listened attentively and the room was quiet for some time. But, I couldn't really catch up with the lecture actually, but I did get the gist of it. About Imam Hussein for sure. And towards the end, the lecture went so emotional. The cries accompanied the lecture. Everybody started to cry and they were crying till the end of the lecture. MashaAllah! I made efforts too, to cry but not a single tear coming out from my eyes! So sad:( I think it's because of I didn't understand the story thoroughly and due to my unfocused attitude during listening (well, I had to reply my friends' messages; about the coursework, so I needed to respond to them as well).
All right, when the lecture finished, everyone stood up and began to recite poem (well, it's actually a kinda introduction words from Ali Akbar to the enemies before they started the battle). It's like he was saying he is the son of Hussein, grandson of Ali and great grandson of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. While reciting that words (in rhythm of course, but the voice was in Urdu), they also patted their right hand on their chests. I could hear the loud patting sound from the brother's side. And all I did was just standing and not following the patting. At first, my Iranian friend said "it's okay, you just sit". But, I just stood to show my respect towards them and their activity.
After the reciting and patting session, they gave salam to the Prophet and ahlul Bayt. They were still standing but they moved slightly their direction of standing (twice or thrice, I don't remember) a few times while giving the salam. Then, the session ended.
The lady served us a lot of naans. They were expecting more people to come, but very few came. It was just four of us, women and I don't know about the brother's side. Accompanying the naan were the curry and pepsi. During the eating, the lady told me so much knowledge about Shia faith and we had some discussion about faith. The Quran, the Prophet bloodlines and the Imams. I also shared my opinions and experience about what I've learned about Shia when I was in college. I really had good time there.
After that, we went back to campus.
Alhamdulillah, certain things were made clarified to me. Even though I didn't produce a single tear, but InshaAllah I wanna learn more about Imam Hussein through reading. I think it's an intimate way to achieve knowledge. But, acquiring knowledge through a teacher or shaykh is a primary way which we should follow. It's the sunnah of the Prophet by the way.
All right, as a conclusion I wanna share a link regarding the relationship between loving the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam and Imam Hussein.
http://muxlim.com/blogs/kidman/imam-hussain-grandson-of-prophet-muhammad/
Wassalam,
zara
Today I went to a remembrance ceremony for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at TTS. It was organized by a Shiites society. Well, actually I didn't plan to go there at first because it was so a random decision for me to attend this majlis.
All right, the story began like this...
After having dinner at SA building with my friend (sitting at the open air area and facing the lake, around 7 p.m), I waved at her as she went back by riding motorcycle. And, I went back into the SA to buy a bottle of drinking water.
After that, as I walked back towards my residence hall, suddenly I saw my Iranian friend from the distant, wearing black abaya. Well, as usual we will greet and hug each other, saying "How are you?", "Where do you wanna go?", stuff like that you know. And, she told me that she was going to attend a ceremony, in remembrance of Imam Hussein. And, she was waiting for her friends to pick her up from campus to TTS.
Since I could not control my excitement, I told her that how much I wanted to listen to the story of Imam Hussein. How did he become a martyr in Karbala. And I even told her that how I wish to cry while listening to this historical story! I've been wanting to know you know! All this while (these past 2 months), I just got the "smell" of it, but not the real taste. I mean about the story and certain things about Shiites faith.
So, she delightedly invited me to come to the ceremony and she really really welcomed me to join the majlis!
So, what was my reply?
Of course I wanna go! I was not that busy at that night and yeah...why not? The door was opened for me and I would never know when such opportunity will come to me again right? So, I just said to her that I wanna go and it just that I felt quite shy to follow her and I was afraid that the Shiites might feel awkward with my presence. But, again she really really welcomed me sincerely and Alhamdulillah after that we just had to wait a couple of minutes before her friends came to pick us up.
When we arrived there...
When we entered the house, the ceremony had just begun with the poem recital (it was played from radio or laptop, I'm not sure and it was in Urdu). So, we headed directly to a special room for the sisters and I met this one lady and my friend introduced me to her. She's a Pakistani or an Indian, I believe. After some time, the lecture began. But, it wasn't presented directly from a scholar but, it was a recorded one played from the laptop, I guess. Or the radio.
So, everyone listened attentively and the room was quiet for some time. But, I couldn't really catch up with the lecture actually, but I did get the gist of it. About Imam Hussein for sure. And towards the end, the lecture went so emotional. The cries accompanied the lecture. Everybody started to cry and they were crying till the end of the lecture. MashaAllah! I made efforts too, to cry but not a single tear coming out from my eyes! So sad:( I think it's because of I didn't understand the story thoroughly and due to my unfocused attitude during listening (well, I had to reply my friends' messages; about the coursework, so I needed to respond to them as well).
All right, when the lecture finished, everyone stood up and began to recite poem (well, it's actually a kinda introduction words from Ali Akbar to the enemies before they started the battle). It's like he was saying he is the son of Hussein, grandson of Ali and great grandson of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. While reciting that words (in rhythm of course, but the voice was in Urdu), they also patted their right hand on their chests. I could hear the loud patting sound from the brother's side. And all I did was just standing and not following the patting. At first, my Iranian friend said "it's okay, you just sit". But, I just stood to show my respect towards them and their activity.
After the reciting and patting session, they gave salam to the Prophet and ahlul Bayt. They were still standing but they moved slightly their direction of standing (twice or thrice, I don't remember) a few times while giving the salam. Then, the session ended.
The lady served us a lot of naans. They were expecting more people to come, but very few came. It was just four of us, women and I don't know about the brother's side. Accompanying the naan were the curry and pepsi. During the eating, the lady told me so much knowledge about Shia faith and we had some discussion about faith. The Quran, the Prophet bloodlines and the Imams. I also shared my opinions and experience about what I've learned about Shia when I was in college. I really had good time there.
After that, we went back to campus.
Alhamdulillah, certain things were made clarified to me. Even though I didn't produce a single tear, but InshaAllah I wanna learn more about Imam Hussein through reading. I think it's an intimate way to achieve knowledge. But, acquiring knowledge through a teacher or shaykh is a primary way which we should follow. It's the sunnah of the Prophet by the way.
All right, as a conclusion I wanna share a link regarding the relationship between loving the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam and Imam Hussein.
http://muxlim.com/blogs/kidman/imam-hussain-grandson-of-prophet-muhammad/
Wassalam,
zara
Sunday, December 12, 2010
HURT - Part 1
Salamu alaykum,
Now, it's the time for me to pour out my true feelings. About why I disappeared after IB, lost contact with everybody and never informed people about what happened to me after that, especially to the KMBian friends.
Okay, the first thing that I want everybody to know is that; I THANK ALLAH SO MUCH FOR NOT DESTINED TO FLY! ALHAMDULILLAH. No, it's not a statement from the heart of a loser.
huh?
WHY? All right, this is quite difficult to explain because you don't understand what I've felt during these past few months. Hmm...how to start..
All right. The story began like this...
After IB, everybody went home including me. But, before leaving KMB, I scanned the view of my room many many times because that room kept so much memories in it. People who used to come to my room know why because they also loved my room so much.
It is in this room that I've made friendships with a lot of people (a lot of them are medic students). It is in the room that the weekly usrah was conducted (they opted to do usrah in my room since it is spacious enough to make a circle). It is in this room where the classmates gathered (M08J for sure:) ). It is in the room where some friends stayed overnight and did their works or studied here. It is this room where people made it as their own room (or 2nd room, if you like). Well, you can see now how central it was, my room! It is the room of love, I would say because I love everyone that came to my room. I enjoyed talking to them and listening to their problems or any story. We shared a lot of dreams together. Break-fasting together. Giving everybody 'a character' related to their dreams (Elizabeth Bennet @ Mrs Darcy, Mother Teresa etc). We could feel the sisterhood bonding on that time. I love my friends. They are the people whom I love by faith. But, the most significant thing about the room is that, it is where I found my faith! My spiritual journey began here. And InshaAllah, I'll tell you how and why in any of the forth coming entries.
All right, now I hope you understand now how much the room was so nostalgic to me especially when it comes to friendship.
I am a very sensitive person when it comes to matter like this, you know. I mean, friendship. Once I love people, I would really really love them. I'll attach faith together with the love. That's why it's very extremely difficult for me to accept the fact that people have forgotten me. I feel hurt until now. I never thought things like this would happen to me (of being forgotten after all the moments of being together).
Now, I realized that I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOBODY IN THEIR HEARTS, you know. Perhaps I was. I might be useful to them once because of the room. But, yeah...humans change constantly. I don't know why. Perhaps this is a test for me.
I just have one question to them; WHY DO THEY HAVE TO FORGET ME???
InshaAllah, to be continued...
Love,
zara
Now, it's the time for me to pour out my true feelings. About why I disappeared after IB, lost contact with everybody and never informed people about what happened to me after that, especially to the KMBian friends.
Okay, the first thing that I want everybody to know is that; I THANK ALLAH SO MUCH FOR NOT DESTINED TO FLY! ALHAMDULILLAH. No, it's not a statement from the heart of a loser.
huh?
WHY? All right, this is quite difficult to explain because you don't understand what I've felt during these past few months. Hmm...how to start..
All right. The story began like this...
After IB, everybody went home including me. But, before leaving KMB, I scanned the view of my room many many times because that room kept so much memories in it. People who used to come to my room know why because they also loved my room so much.
It is in this room that I've made friendships with a lot of people (a lot of them are medic students). It is in the room that the weekly usrah was conducted (they opted to do usrah in my room since it is spacious enough to make a circle). It is in this room where the classmates gathered (M08J for sure:) ). It is in the room where some friends stayed overnight and did their works or studied here. It is this room where people made it as their own room (or 2nd room, if you like). Well, you can see now how central it was, my room! It is the room of love, I would say because I love everyone that came to my room. I enjoyed talking to them and listening to their problems or any story. We shared a lot of dreams together. Break-fasting together. Giving everybody 'a character' related to their dreams (Elizabeth Bennet @ Mrs Darcy, Mother Teresa etc). We could feel the sisterhood bonding on that time. I love my friends. They are the people whom I love by faith. But, the most significant thing about the room is that, it is where I found my faith! My spiritual journey began here. And InshaAllah, I'll tell you how and why in any of the forth coming entries.
All right, now I hope you understand now how much the room was so nostalgic to me especially when it comes to friendship.
I am a very sensitive person when it comes to matter like this, you know. I mean, friendship. Once I love people, I would really really love them. I'll attach faith together with the love. That's why it's very extremely difficult for me to accept the fact that people have forgotten me. I feel hurt until now. I never thought things like this would happen to me (of being forgotten after all the moments of being together).
Now, I realized that I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOBODY IN THEIR HEARTS, you know. Perhaps I was. I might be useful to them once because of the room. But, yeah...humans change constantly. I don't know why. Perhaps this is a test for me.
I just have one question to them; WHY DO THEY HAVE TO FORGET ME???
InshaAllah, to be continued...
Love,
zara
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I am a new-me I hope
Well, it's been about 3 weeks now that I'm here, in a beautiful campus of Nottingham Semenyih. I really love the whole new environment now. Friends, lecturers, roommates...I also become more in love with plants=-). I've opened a new facebook account and I really hope that I can become a new person with faith remains attached in my heart, InshaAllah. After all, I just want to be a woman of faith. That's all.
Perhaps I'll include my past life stories later. My dissapointment towards friendships, how I was forgotten by some of my friends...that eventually taught me valuable lesson about friendship and rendered me knowing who is the real friend at the end of the day. And also, there were some "holy people" who used to claim to me that they'll always be with me no matter what happen but I just realized this promise was no more valid when I was in despair. I was hurt and I'm still. But, the thing is that, I still love them until this second because of my faith. They are the people whom I love by faith. And I'll remain loving them forever no matter what. At least, they've existed in my life before for a period of time and I think that was one of the precious gifts from God indeed.
I don't know. I am forgotten and have been put aside from their lives. But, I'll always love them . It's hurt when you love people and they forget you. But, believe me I'm not confused with my own feelings as long as I put faith in my heart. I'll never regret of having this hurt but love feeling because I am always aware that I am being showered by His endless love. I never feel alone. That's the nikmat, you know.
love,
zara
Perhaps I'll include my past life stories later. My dissapointment towards friendships, how I was forgotten by some of my friends...that eventually taught me valuable lesson about friendship and rendered me knowing who is the real friend at the end of the day. And also, there were some "holy people" who used to claim to me that they'll always be with me no matter what happen but I just realized this promise was no more valid when I was in despair. I was hurt and I'm still. But, the thing is that, I still love them until this second because of my faith. They are the people whom I love by faith. And I'll remain loving them forever no matter what. At least, they've existed in my life before for a period of time and I think that was one of the precious gifts from God indeed.
I don't know. I am forgotten and have been put aside from their lives. But, I'll always love them . It's hurt when you love people and they forget you. But, believe me I'm not confused with my own feelings as long as I put faith in my heart. I'll never regret of having this hurt but love feeling because I am always aware that I am being showered by His endless love. I never feel alone. That's the nikmat, you know.
love,
zara
Sunday, August 15, 2010
No, you dont!!
You don't know what I've gone through
You don't feel the internal changes that I've experienced
You don't realize what kind of pressures haunt me all the way
So, you said,
Enough! I can't fathom you!
No, you don't know
Those challenges have made me strong
I know what I'm doing
Let me decide my own path
Don't worry about me
I'll be fine
Allah guides me all the way
He is there for me
Always
For whatever decision that I may choose
I take it seriously
For life is not meant to be a playground
To me myself
It's not about where I end up in this world
It's how I live my life
How I value it
Just pray for me
So that I won't go astray
And be my loyal companion
Wherever I am...
That's all I want from you
You don't feel the internal changes that I've experienced
You don't realize what kind of pressures haunt me all the way
So, you said,
Enough! I can't fathom you!
No, you don't know
Those challenges have made me strong
I know what I'm doing
Let me decide my own path
Don't worry about me
I'll be fine
Allah guides me all the way
He is there for me
Always
For whatever decision that I may choose
I take it seriously
For life is not meant to be a playground
To me myself
It's not about where I end up in this world
It's how I live my life
How I value it
Just pray for me
So that I won't go astray
And be my loyal companion
Wherever I am...
That's all I want from you
My very first teacher...
Salam. Today, I want to talk about my first teacher. How this person had left significant impacts in my life as a growing child. My first teacher was and always, my mother. She didn't only teach me alphabets and numbers at the beginning, but what is more important is the act of virtue; which shaped the way I am today. I was scolded and punished countless time when I was kid as I was truly a naughty kid! After school, I would leave home immediately for friends; playing. Fortunately, my grades were always excellent and I rarely being scolded for academic matters=). But, whenever my mom noticed me behaved mischievously, it's when the rattan would hit me. Sounds mean, right? But no. She did it with purpose; teaching me the right manners (akhlaq). At night, she would apply some oil on my back=). But, all of these punishments only lasted until I was twelve. After I went for a boarding school, she became my best friend until now.She understood that I was a growing teenager and indeed a psychological approach then was her way to teach me. But, believe me. I can now SEE why she did that to me during my childhood. It's not that she is too strict or fierce. No! I would only be punished if I've done wrong. Not because she wanted to release her stress to me. Never! Her love transcends everything. Furthermore, I am the only child born=). As the only kid to my parents, I always know that they will always want the best for me. I know that mother punished me for a reason; only to correct my akhlaq. I know it wouldn't work if the only thing that she did was nagging. No one likes to be nagged! I believe, I would not have been changed into a better person if she keep nagging to me.
I have a friend whose herself and her siblings have never been punished by their parents. They were allowed to act on their own because the parents would never stop them. And whenever she told me about her almost every sibling's character problem, I thank God for my mom.
Again, don't get me wrong. My mom is not a strict nor a fierce mother. She is just a teacher with patience and mission. Also, a caring and loving friend. One of her wishes is to shape me with good manners, to respect other people. No one is flawless including me, do bear that. But, my mother's teaching about virtue has affected my life now. For muslims, here's a hadith from our prophet Muhammad pbuh about mother;
Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah, 's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Qutalba, there is no mention of the word" the people".
found in 'The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wal-Adab)' of Sahih Muslim.source: http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=32&translator=2
And I know that every mom has her own way to teach the children. They know best for their kids. I just want to share my childhood experience with my first teacher; my mother. Here's a video that celebrates mothers. Enjoy it. Feel it.=)
~zara~
I have a friend whose herself and her siblings have never been punished by their parents. They were allowed to act on their own because the parents would never stop them. And whenever she told me about her almost every sibling's character problem, I thank God for my mom.
Again, don't get me wrong. My mom is not a strict nor a fierce mother. She is just a teacher with patience and mission. Also, a caring and loving friend. One of her wishes is to shape me with good manners, to respect other people. No one is flawless including me, do bear that. But, my mother's teaching about virtue has affected my life now. For muslims, here's a hadith from our prophet Muhammad pbuh about mother;
Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah, 's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Qutalba, there is no mention of the word" the people".
found in 'The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wal-Adab)' of Sahih Muslim.source: http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=32&translator=2
And I know that every mom has her own way to teach the children. They know best for their kids. I just want to share my childhood experience with my first teacher; my mother. Here's a video that celebrates mothers. Enjoy it. Feel it.=)
~zara~
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
First words...
Peace be with you all.
I am so happy that finally I am able to provide myself a medium to share my thoughts and feelings with others. I've been longing to write a lot of things and here goes...WITHOUT THEE, considering it as my journal. To all my brothers and sisters in Islam, let's reap the benefits of this blessed month of Ramadhan and better ourselves in every aspect. There are just too many offers from Allah that we all should grab!
~zara~
I am so happy that finally I am able to provide myself a medium to share my thoughts and feelings with others. I've been longing to write a lot of things and here goes...WITHOUT THEE, considering it as my journal. To all my brothers and sisters in Islam, let's reap the benefits of this blessed month of Ramadhan and better ourselves in every aspect. There are just too many offers from Allah that we all should grab!
~zara~
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