"Labaik allahuma labaik...." ♥

Assalamualaikum & salaam sayang :)


It's been awhile hasn't it? October came & ended in a blink of an eye. And now November has graced us with it's presence and Alhamdulillah, if you're reading this - it means Allah loves you & you're given the opportunity to still live in this wonderful creation of his, that is the dunya... :)

I hope all of you are well. Alhamdulillah for me, October was a month of celebrations. There are a lot of things that I'd like to share with you, but I guess it is suffice to say that I've been utterly blessed to be given the opportunity to experience a lot of wonderful 'happenings' last month.. :)

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Having said that, us Muslims would celebrate Eid ul-Adha on Sunday, November 6th 2011 (Malaysia). Talking about it bring back lots of fond memories of my late grandparents and I when we went to perform our umrah about a decade ago! It was so surreal, and I know I am blessed because I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the holy land and perform my prayers directly in front of the Ka'aba...SubhanAllah...

And I remember repeating the phrase below over & over again while performing my tawaf around the Ka'aba;

"Labaik allahuma labaik, labaik la sharika laka labaik, Innal hamda wann'imat laka wal mulk, la sharika lak"

which means...

"I stand up for YOUR service, O GOD! I stand up! I stand up! There is no partner with YOU! I stand up for YOUR service! Verily YOURS is the praise, the beneficence, and the dominion! There is no partner with YOU"

It was a beautiful and memorable experience that I will personally treasure for the rest of my life; and given the opportunity, I would love to go to Mecca & Medina again. People from all over the world, young and old, regardless of their gender, race and color are united as one in the holy place of Mecca. There, you are at peace. Your sole purpose of being there amongst others is to pray to HIM, to seek HIM, to purify yourself of all of your past sins and to seek for HIS forgiveness.

As we are in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, and it is the month where Muslims all around the world would gather in Mecca to perform their Hajj, I found an interesting article on TUMBLR which I'd like to share with all of you. Below is the article that could provide us, me included a little bit more info about Hajj and it's importance.

Source: Tumblr

Each year in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world begin observing activities associated with the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is one of the “five pillars” of the Islamic faith. Hajj activities take place during six days (8th-13th) of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah. Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those Muslims who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey. It is also a form of worship that involves the entire being: body, mind and soul.

What does the Qur’an say about Hajj?

In the Qur’an, God says: “Thus We settled Abraham at the site of the House (the Ka’aba) [saying]: ‘Do not associate anything with Me, and purify My house for those who walk around it, and those who stand there (praying), and those who bow down on their knees in worship. Proclaim the pilgrimage among mankind: they will come to you on foot and on every lean (beast of burden); Let them come from every deep ravine, to bear witness to the advantages they have, and to mention God’s name on appointed days…” Chapter 22, verses 26-28

What do Muslims believe they gain from Hajj?

The main benefit of Hajj for many people is the sense of purification, repentance and spiritual renewal it instills. The rituals of the Hajj entail great wisdom and excellent lessons, the most important of which is a manifestation of humility to God The Almighty. This is because the pilgrim leaves a life of luxury and adornment to wear the clothes of Ihraam (two pieces of unsewn white cloth), declaring his dire need for his Lord. In this journey, he frees himself from the worldly life and its occupations that divert him from God The Almighty and to receive forgiveness and mercy from his Lord.

In Hajj, all differences and distinctions vanish i.e. the differences of wealth and poverty, race and color, and the differences of tongues and languages. The gathering unifies all humans, making it full of goodness, blessings, mutual consultation, advice and cooperation in righteousness and support. During the Hajj, people cooperate in righteousness and piety, advise each other to adhere to the truth and patience and take care of the interests of the Ummah. The sublime aim behind such a great conference and gathering is to link worldly goals to heavenly ones. Hajj leads to precious memories which instill in souls the spirit of endless and complete servitude and submission to the commands of God The Almighty.

Why does Hajj begin on a different day each year?

Because Dhul-Hijjah is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days earlier each year.

Why do Muslims sacrifice a lamb or other animal during the festival of Eid ul-Adha?

The sacrifice commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son, identified in Islam as Ishmael, at God’s request. This is not a blood offering. In the Quran God states: “Neither their meat nor their blood ever reaches God, but heedfulness on your part does reach Him.” (Chapter 22, verse 37) The meat is distributed to relatives and to the needy.

Is Hajj an obligation on all Muslims?

Yes, but only for those who are physically and financially able to make the trip.

What are the most visually striking aspects of Hajj?

All pilgrims must do tawaf, or circling the Ka’aba. This obligation creates a stunning scene as thousands of people circle the building at all times of the day and night. Also, the standing at Arafah on the 9th day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah presents a scene in which several million people all dressed alike and with the same intention to worship God, gather on a barren plain.

Before I end this entry of mine, I'd like to send my best wishes to all the Muslims who would be celebrating Eid ul-Adha. May this celebration bring us joy, happiness, peace, love and most of all harmony & unity amongst ourselves. May Allah bless all of you and your loved ones, insyaAllah. Love more and hate less, please. :)

p.s. Below is the video that I'm currently listening to; makes me feel as if I'm in Mecca doing my tawaf around the Ka'aba....

Much love,
ME


Salaam ♥

"What Makes You Different, Makes You Beautiful" ♥

Assalamualaikum & Salaam sayang loves ♥ :))


How are you today? Have you been good? I surely hope so..I hope you've been blessed by HIM with lots of laughter and love over the past few weeks, cause I have and if I were to be frank, I have enjoyed every minute of it! *Alhamdulillah!*

Partly because I've been attending loads of weddings over the past few weeks. And I love weddings, they make me HAAAAAPPY! Nothing excites me more than seeing a beautiful and loving couple walk down the 'aisle' towards their dais/pelamin... *sigh* and I can get pretty emotional too when I watch the wedding videos they played at the receptions..cause it's just so..darn beautiful...

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Anyways, this post is definitely NOT about weddings. Hehee..it's about embracing your uniqueness and differences. Everyone's born different, no one person is the same. Each one of us have different personalities. And maybe, some are born more beautiful (physically) than others; but there are also some who are just as beautiful on the outside due to their awesome personalities... :)

So no one is really at loss here; but of course, society tells you differently..they judged us (both you and me) based on our appearances. There's a phrase that says, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" - but certainly, that's exactly what we're all guilty off (yup, this includes both you and me too unfortunately)..hmmm..

It's quite sad really when we think about it. Someone not given a chance just because how she looks/acts may be a bit different than most. We need to try to be less judgmental of others, that's for sure. What we've all known for years is that no one is perfect; hence, that should make us realize that we're in no position to judge others just because they're a tad different. Everyone should be given a fair chance to be 'liked/appreciated/loved' even IF they ARE a bit different. After all, everyone's beautiful in their own way...kan? :)

Always put this thought in your mind, that the most precious thing in the world is you, yourself. Because style is often imitated, and trend always changes - but there won't be another you. Cause you're irreplaceable.. :)

Alritey then, before I end this post - lemme share with you a song that I love from the infamous boyband the "Backstreet Boys"..hope that all of you sweethearts would be blessed with more love and laughter from now onwards. And may Allah bless all of you and your loved ones always! *insyaAllah* :)

Always appreciate the beauty that is you ♥

Much love,
-Me-

Salaam ♥

I've Learned.... ♥

Assalamualaikum & Salaam sayang ♥ :)

"As I’ve grown, I’ve learned several things. Life is full of disappointments and people you trusted will sooner or later let you down. I’ve learned that often those you love will love someone else and there’s only one way to fall; fast and hard. I’ve learned that out of thousands of smiles, it takes one to touch your heart. I’ve found that words can be deceiving, but the truth always lies in a person’s eyes. I’ve learned that everything can change in the blink of an eye and tears often come without invitation. I’ve learned crying can make us stronger and there is never too much love to go around. I’ve learned that prejudice helps no one and that weapons don’t hurt people, people hurt people. I’ve learned sticks and stones may leave cuts and bruises but harsh words leave scars. I’ve found that every time you give someone a piece of your heart, it’s a piece that you will never get back. I’ve learned the past is meant to be put behind us and we can’t dwell on regrets, for what’s done is done. I’ve learned that trusting yourself is the first step and that forgiving is remembering that helps your own heart more then theirs. I’ve found that family isn’t always blood and everyone is someone’s hero. I’ve learned life is unexpected and that God can do anything. I’ve learned some things aren’t meant to be understood and that only time heals. I’ve found that imagination is our greatest gift and that we are meant to dream for a reason. I’ve learned it is never too late to fall in love and that being ‘beautiful’ is all on the inside. Mistakes are our best teachers and everything happens for a reason. Only then can you live life to it’s full and true potential."


I found the above excerpt(?) in Tumblr; and I couldn't have describe what I've learned so far in this short 25 years of mine better than the author. But if I may add; I've also discovered that through all the heartbreaks, the pain and the obstacles that I've gone through - having faith in HIM and yourself is the first step in moving on and getting better.

I've learned that happiness doesn't always have to be a big box wrapped in a beautiful gift wrap with a bow on top; for essentially, happiness is how WE define it to be. Apart from that, I've also learned that 'fate' is a powerful thing, and that when GOD says YES, nobody in the world can say NO. And above all else, I've learned that all the tests/obstacles HE 'gave' us sometimes can be the greatest form of blessing for ultimately, HE is the GREATEST and obviously, HE knows BEST... ♥


Much love,
-Me-

Salaam ♥

.FRIENDS.

Assalamualaikum & salaam sayang ♥ :)


Hope all of you are well..I came across this post in Tumblr and couldn't resist sharing it with all of you. As a matter of fact, I actually wrote a post similar to this 2 years ago - sharing my thoughts about what constitutes a 'good friend'...

"What defines a best friend? What are the requirements to be a good best friend? How many hours a week does it entail? Stupid questions that have no answers. A best friend is not defined by how many times they talk on the phone, or how many hours they hang out together. It is not defined by how many sleepovers they gossip at, or how many inside jokes they have. There are no requirements or laws that state that a good best friend must hang out with them every weekend, or tell each other every little detail. A best friend is a matter of opinion. It is the person who has been there for you through everything, not just through the fun things, or the little things. It is the person that you call when you are at your absolute worst, it is the person who saves you when you didn’t even notice that you needed saving, mostly it is the person who accepts you for who you are, and the person that you are becoming.."

There are a looooot of opinions and thoughts shared on what makes a friend --> a 'good/best friend'...personally I think in any form of relationship, there should always be give and take; plenty of forgiveness and yes, patience too. None of us are perfect, hence, we need to make allowances once in awhile for the imperfection that our friends (and that includes ours too) have..with that in mind, always try to surround yourself with friends that can motivate/inspire you to be a better person. And try to be the person that can motivate/inspire someone else too; because ultimately the intention of being in a relationship is to make each of you happier, wiser and grow into more beautiful people than you were before *insyaAllah* :)

That said, when you befriend someone, always have this in mind; 'Don't set certain expectations/requirements that he/she should have', and 'Accept them for who they are and who they're not'.

I listed all of the above because when you start having certain expectations or requirements in your relationship/friendship, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. Us humans, we're not perfect. We sometimes make promises that we can't keep. We sometimes lie to keep others happy. Setting expectations/requirements evidently restricts your relationship/friendship with someone from 'growing'.

Neither friendship nor relationship can be control. It's not something that you can maneuver. It's an invisible bond that is bind by chemistry. It's either you have 'it' or you don't. Trust, patience, loyalty then comes next after you've realized that he/she understands you and can be someone that you can rely on. Some friends in fact understands you better than others.

Some friends are so easy to talk to, you can tell them aaaaall of your secrets, while others may be the kind of friends that you avoid from sharing too much details with. Doesn't make them less of a friend, though, don't you think?

Ultimately to me, what matters in a relationship/friendship is the fulfillment that you get from having someone that you can call a friend and rely on. The joy of having a companion that will not only share all your laughters, but your pain too. And last but not least, berkawan biar ikhlas. When you have good intentions, InsyaAllah your friendship will always be protected by HIM from conflict, turmoil and misunderstandings. Ameen.

Much love,
-Me-

Salaam ♥

p.s. Excuse my way of writing in the previous post if you may; it was a personal one as you can see and I was just explaining things the way I see it at the moment. Prolly not my best post, but it was just me expressing my two cents on an 'issue' that I felt was getting out-of-hand... :)

Words

Salaam :)


How many of you have said something hurtful and then regret it a second later? *raises hand* I have...plenty of times, to be frank.. *hmmm*


There's a quote that states;

"If your foot slips, you can always recover your balance. But when your tongue slips, you can never recover your words.."

Human's emotions are fragile; when one lacks patience and are deeply hurt - one uses his/her words to inflict pain on others (whether intentionally/unintentionally); if only to make himself/herself feel better. How long do you think he/her would feel better though? Talking from experience, only a millisecond. Then regrets starts creeping in and before I knew it, I'd be consumed with guilt.. *not.a.good.feeling.to.have* (-_-)"

Pain inflicted from words hurts a lot more than a cut from a knife; for you can see the scars created by the physical wound - but the scars that you can't see...? Those usually hurts the most and takes the longest time to heal. How do I know? Cause hey, I've been a 'victim' before too. And trust me, it hurts. A LOT.

Surprising isn't it? How powerful these simple words could be? It could motivate/inspire a person OR it could hurt and saddens them to the point where it could all spiral out of control and lead them to depression. Apart from that, wrong usage of words could also ruin relationships with others; whether it's with your friends, your spouse or even with your family members..

So how do we change this 'disease'? How could we make sure that the words we use don't inflict pain on others, but instead use them to inspire/motivate/make others happy?

I guess first, you gotta understand how powerful these words are. And how much responsibility you have in ensuring that whatever words that comes out from your mouth are well-thought out and is said only with the best of intentions.. :)

Hehee, sounds hard ek? Maybe; lol. But nothing worth having comes easy in life.. :) And if you value the relationships you have with your friends, your spouse and your family; then it would be worth it to start 'practicing' now. Besides, you may not realize it - but in all honesty, the words that you speak indirectly shows what kind of a person you are. Whether you're someone who is kind, honest and honorable OR it could be the total opposite.

Furthermore, I'm sure at some point in our lives, we've all been a 'victim' of this 'disease'; so we would surely know how hurtful it could be when someone said hurtful words to us. So if you understand how painful those words could be, then I'm sure we could all try not to inflict the same pain on others. We learn from experience kan? So we should not repeat those situations just to make ourselves feel better. No revenge is necessary in this world; after all, HE knows BEST. Let HIM decide the 'punishment' that those who hurt us deserves. And for all you know, perhaps they've repented and seek forgiveness from HIM. If HE, the Al-Mighty can forgive them, then why not us...?

So the next time you're about to speak, think. Would the words you speak out be of value to the other party, or would it instead hurt them and subsequently ruined your relationship with him/her. Think. THINK! :)


An Arabic proverb states;

"Open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than silence.."

So think my loves; memanglah tidak mudah nak jadik orang yang baik. But if we do all those hurtful things to others when we clearly know how hurtful it is; then unfortunately, we're just the same like them. Like the people who has hurt us. And so the hurtful cycle repeats. They hurt us, we hurt others..then the others hurt 'others'..and on and on the list goes on...it's not exactly a cycle that one should be a part of, to be honest... :)

We could break the hurtful chain by being the bigger person. When we are hurt, and though we might be tempted to use hurtful words on the other party, try to contain your anger by saying zikr to Allah. Take long deep breaths and just walk away. Walk away, so that you could control your anger/hurt and refrain yourself from saying those words...patience is a virtue. And HE, HE loves those who are patient... :)

"Allah surely loves those who are the Sabireen (patient)..." (3:146)

And below is a du'a that we could all insyaAllah benefit from;

Du'a:

"Allahumma musarrifal-qulubi, sarrif qulubana 'ala ta 'atika"

O Allah! Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience... [Ameen]

Besides, if you think about it - what goes around will always come around. The words you speak today could be the words you eat tomorrow. So you should always try to make them sweet! ;)

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Before I end this quite lengthy post of mine, I'd like to leave all you sweethearts with this powerful quote;

"Words can be very powerful. Why not use them to lift someone up today rather than knock them down.." :)

Have a good good Wednesday dear ones, if you're wearing pink today, you could go to Baskin Robbins and treat yourself to some delicious ice-cream...! ;)



Much love,
-Me-


Salaam ♥

Eid-ul Fitr 2011 ♥

Salaam sayang to all :)


Ramadhan is long gone, but there are some parts of me that still misses it. The breaking fast with my loved ones, the fact that we would go to the mosques in our telekungs to perform the Terawikhs..the fact that it is the month that one should go all out to make du'a to HIM so that HE can ease our burdens, and lessen our sins..I now call it "THE MONTH"..and I hope Allah would grant all of us; you and me both, long lives so that we can aaaaaaall welcome another Ramadhan *insyaAllah* Ameen... :)

Anyways, as you lovely readers out there know..we're now in the month of Syawal! I hope it's not too late for me to wish all of you 'Salam Eid-ul Fitr'. Hope you've had a blessed and wonderful wonderful Eid celebration with all your loved ones *insyaAllah*

To me personally, Raya is not about the 'green packets' and fireworks alone; but it's about seeking forgiveness for the mistakes that you have made in the past and spending time with precious people that you hold close to your heart. So that said, I would like to take this opportunity to seek forgiveness from all of you, andai terkasar bahasa atau tersinggung mana-mana pihak. Salah dan silap harap maafkan ye?

**In all honesty, I didn't start this blog to garner followers but as of late, I've noticed that I've gained quite a number of new readers. I write based on experience and sometimes just for the fun of it. Hence, I hope that in some ways - I've managed to inspire (?) or motivate (?) some if not all of you to be a better and more positive person. If you have any experiences or insights that you would like to share with me, you are more than welcome to write to me at warda_sjaffar@hotmail.com.**

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Salam Eid-ul Fitr dari kami sekeluarga. Moga Allah memberkati kita semua dengan kebahagiaan sempena perayaan yang mulia ini, insyaAllah ♥ :))

First day of Raya; celebrated at Abah's eldest sister's house. It was a simple yet beautiful gathering. A loud and noisy one too *just the way I like it* ;)

We went back to Umi's hometown in Singapore the 2nd day of Raya. It was fun visiting my mum's aunties' and uncles'; as we only get to see them about once a year during Eid. Below are some of the pictures taken during our short trip there:

My sisters & yours truly at the Singapore Airport *my cousin & his friend 'kidnapped' us to celebrate my birthday there* :)

The mosque at Arab Street

One of the beautiful mosques in Singapore :)

One of the shopping malls in Singapore; ION Orchard. The architecture of the building is superb! :)

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Birthday flowers from him. They were gorgeous! :)

Celebrated my belated birthday dinner at La Risata, Medan Damansara. A place worth going to! :)

My birthday was on September 1st. I'm now officially 25 years young *hee* I couldn't be more blessed to be able to celebrate Eid and my birthday all in the same week with people that I love and truly treasure in my life. No words could describe how thankful I am of these blessings Ya Allah! And I pray that you would bless them all with much love and happiness, insyaAllah!

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We've about 3 weeks of Eid left; I hope we would all be blessed with more happiness, joy and laughter in this blessed month of Syawal *insyaAllah* And here's a friendly reminder; to those of you who would like to gain more pahala in this beautiful month (it's not compulsory) - let's puasa enam together owkay? It should be done within the month of Syawal, do it continuously or do it alternately - just so long as it's in the month of Syawal. I have yet started doing it myself, but am hoping to start fasting soon *insyaAllah* :)


Alritey then, guess that's all from me for now. May today, tomorrow and insyaAllah the following days would be beautiful for both you and I, Ameen... :)


Much love,
-Me-

Salaam ♥

Kerana Wanita Ingin Di Mengerti ♥

Salaam sayang... :)


One of my fave songs...dedicated to all the women in the world! Hope you'll all have a blessed weekend loves! May HE bless us all, insyaAllah... ♥ :)

"...bintang terang, itulah dirimu..." ---> so never think otherwise, owkay? :)

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♥ Ketika wanita menangis,
Itu bukan bererti dia sedang mengeluarkan senjata terampuhnya,
Melainkan bererti dia sedang mengeluarkan senjata terakhirnya...


Ketika wanita menangis,
Itu bukan bererti dia tidak berusaha menahannya,
Melainkan kerana pertahanannya sudah tidak mampu lagi membendung air matanya...


Ketika wanita menangis,
Itu bukan kerana dia ingin terlihat lemah,
Melainkan kerana dia sudah tidak sanggup berpura-pura kuat... ♥

A woman is special, created from Adam's ribs; not created from his head to top him, nor his feet to be stepped upon. She was made from his side to be close to him, from beneath his arm to be protected by him and near his heart to be loved by him. So treat her gently and love her dearly, for she is a strong yet delicate soul; and truly, the best of you men are the ones who are just and gentle with those around you... :)


Much love,
-Me-

Salaam ♥

Senyumlah Wahai Kawanku... :)

Salaam...

I hope all of you are well, insyaAllah. I don't know about you, but I am still in disbelief that in three days' time, us Muslims would be celebrating Eid-ul Fitr. Ya Allah, how time flies! +_+

Regardless, I sincerely hope that Ramadhan's been treating you kind and that it has blessed you and your loved ones with plenty of barrakat and joy, insyaAllah. The month of Syawal is gonna arrive soon; hence I hope it would help strengthen our relationship with our loved ones and blessed us all with more love, patience and joy, Ameen. :)

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I know it's hard to smile when we're facing a tough battle; but even our beloved Prophet SAW could smile when he is tested with hardships that is even bigger than ours...then why can't we braved ourselves and try to smile..? :)

Senyumlah wahai kawanku, Kesatlah air matamu dan senyumlah kerana
Setiap ujian yang diturunkan pasti bersebab dan mempunyai seribu satu hikmah yang tersirat disebaliknya...
Masakan Allah menguji dirimu sekiranya DIA tidak percaya bawaha engkau mampu mengatasinya,
Masakan DIA menguji dirimu sekiranya DIA tidak menyayangimu..
Kerna sayanglah, DIA tiap kali menguji dirimu; supaya engkau tidak leka, supaya engkau sentiasa mengingatiNYA
Maka tabahkanlah hatimu, dan kuatkanlah dirimu
Agar engkau lebih sabar mengharungi segala dugaanNya
Agar engkau lebih redha untuk menghadapi semua perancangan yang telah ditetapkan olehNYA,
Kerana percayalah sesungguhnya, kita manusia hanya boleh merancang, tetapi DIAlah yang berkuasa untuk menentukannya...
Maka senyumlah kawanku, kerana percayalah DIA sememangnya amat menyayangi dirimu... <3

Always have faith that HE 'blessed' you with plenty of obstacles and challenges because HE loves you. If you see Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, holding back this world from you, frequently trying you with adversity and tribulation, do know that you hold a great status with HIM. Know that he is dealing with you as HE does with HIS ‘Awliya and chosen elite, and is watching over you.

"So wait steadfastly for the judgement of your Lord - you are certainly before our eyes..." [Surah At-Tur; 52:48]

So my friends; everytime you are faced with an obstacle that is burdening you - try to smile; because that means HE loves you and cares for you..and that also means, HE remembers you..and wants you to remember HIM too.. <3


Much love,
-Me-

Salaam... :)

"Best Thing I Never Had"

Song playing in the background: Beyonce's "Best Thing I Never Had"


I was in the car when I first listened to this song, the lyrics caught my attention and I couldn't help but smile. Beyonce's songs are always *almost* inspirational. She always knows how to empower women and get them through certain difficult and heartbreaking situations. "Irreplaceable" got me through my heartache. I played that song over & over again, till I felt a LOT better.

Singing at the top of my lungs that "You must not know 'bout me, you must not know 'bout me, I can have another you in a minute, matter fact he'll be here in a minute..baby.." made me feel so semangat! Lol. Kononnya, that is MY way of moving on, like hey, don't worry but I'm gonna be just FINE! You hurt me, and you seemed to think that I ain't gonna be able to move on, and you're gonna be sorry! :b

*Reality is, lol - If I had a chance, I don't think I'd want another him, and when I sang that song, it was nothing personal. But it was the only way I knew how to express my hurt and disappointment of yet another failed relationship.* :)

Ive grown a lot over the years; both spiritually and mentally. *I'd like to say physically too, but hey who am I kidding right?* -_-"

Years have passed, and I'm now much happier *Alhamdulillah* and more matured. I now realized that, perhaps the reason why I went through those ordeals was to make me a better person, to make me stronger, more attentive to my surroundings and the people that I hold close to my heart. Of course it hurts, but hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger kan? Furthermore, I believe that there's a reason why a heart breaks. It breaks because it needs to be put back together by the right person when the time is right. So have patience, owkay? In due time, HE'll blessed you with someone who knows your worth *insyaAllah* :))

Having said that, experiencing those 'sticky' situations usually would make one closer to HIM. Because ultimately, the only one who could make you feel better is the CREATOR. It is HIM we should seek when we are in doubt, and it is HIM we should turn to when we are in pain. We might not understand why it happened to us and felt as though he is punishing us but believe me when I say that, when GOD takes away something from your hand, don't think HE's punishing you for HE is merely emptying your hand, for you to receive something better. GOD is fair and HE knows BEST, even though you might not like and accept the situation that has happened to you..

"You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: GOD knows and you do not.." [Al-Baqarah, 216]

I've been told that when bad things happens to you, you should question your relationship with HIM and reflect on the things that you've done in the past. Because sometimes the real reason why you are put through those challenges is to make you closer to HIM...let HIM take control of your life; for we can plan but GOD is indeed the BEST planner.

I saw this in Tumblr, and it touched my heart...

"Suddenly I somehow know that my life did not need to be this way and that GOD had something better for me. I felt him gently whisper these words to my soul: 'You continue to get your heart broken because you are holding the pen of your life and trying to write your own story. I am the Author of love. I am the Creator of romance. I know your heart's every desire. I want to script a beautiful tale just for you, but first you must give the pen to me. You must let ME become the center of your existence. You must let ME have total control of your love life, and every other area of your life as well..."

Beautiful isn't it? I'll let you reflect on that yourself... :)

Much love from me <3

.Salaam.


p.s. I love this cover of Beyonce's song, have a listen to it... :)

Life's Trials & Tribulations...

In love and life, there are a lot of trial and errors. Some obstacles that we faced would bring us triumph while others might lead to unwanted results. However, for each and every pain/heartbreak that we go through - we should all be aware that there are perfectly good reasons behind them, though we might not be able to understand why at that particular moment. Have the belief that those challenges are only given to you because Allah knows that your faith is strong enough to get through them.

Trust me when I tell you this; that Allah only removes something from your life to make room for something better. And sometimes HE would take away the better to give you HIS best. So stay strong and have faith in HIM and yourself; for with each difficulty in life, there is surely ease. And for each supplication you make, there would be great reward from the Al-Mighty - so gather your strength and have patience, for insyaAllah you would be rewarded handsomely when the time comes...

Oh Allah…

I told you: I’m in pain

You said: ‘Do not despair of the mercy of Allah’ (39:53)

I told you: Nobody knows what is in my heart

You said: ‘Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest’ (13:28)

I told you: Many people hurt me

You said: ‘So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them’ (3:159)

I told you: I feel I’m alone

You said: ‘We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein’ (50:16)

I told you: My sins are so many

You said: ‘And who can forgive sins except Allah?’ (3:135)

I told you: Do not leave me

You said: ‘So remember Me; I will remember you…’ (2:152)

I told you: I’m facing a lot of difficulties in life

You said: ‘And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out’ (65:2)

I told you: I have many dreams that I want to come true

You said: ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ (40:60)

So you see, Allah never fails us & HE would always be there for us, in good times and bad times, in sickness and in health...and unlike marriage, even death can't ever tear our relationship away from HIM cause HE is our creator and indeed, HE knows BEST...so turn to HIM when you are in trouble, seek for HIS help when you are in doubt; and last but not least, never ever forget to thank HIM when you are blessed by HIS kindness and love...

Much love,
.Salaam.

.Life Partner.

The person you choose to be your partner in life should be someone who will help you to do the right thing and make the right decisions, someone who will remind you of Allah (GOD) and the fact that you are going to stand in front of HIM alone one day; someone who helps you be a better and stronger you.


Source: iluvislam.com

Nobody wants to go through life alone, so it's only a norm that everyone would want to have a partner who would love them, care for them and motivate them when it gets tough for them to go through it alone. How often do we hope for a partner/spouse who would make us a better person tho? Not often enough, to be honest. Most of us if not all of us would usually include 'love me, care for me, take care of me, good-looking, funny, smart and etc' in their checklist (if you have any) but not 'one that would make me a better person than I was before'.

No one should be blamed however, because in all honesty - we always assumed that all that matters is that the partner we have or going to have one day would first and foremost love us and cherish us... :) Improving ourselves so that we could be a better person than we ever were took a backseat because we never really grasp the importance of that particular detail.

But we should. We should include that detail as well because a good relationship should make one grow; so that he/she can be a better and much stronger person than he/she ever was before.

For me personally, a good relationship should have these few essentials. Among some of them are:
(1) It should encourage us to form a stronger bond to our faith and our religion.
Meaning: Our partner should be one who would constantly remind us to not forget HIM; in our thoughts, prayers and life. In that way, it would not only make us closer to HIM, but it would also help us in becoming better individuals/Muslims. Apart from that, through these important reminders - hopefully HE would also bless our relationship with our partner always. InsyaAllah.

(2) It should teach us to be more patient, because sabr is a virtue. And through patience, we'd be able to learn other values as well such as humility and kindness. It's easy to lose your patience when you're mad/upset with how things are not going your way. But if we were to do that, how would we learn to control our anger? So a good partner/spouse should be one who would advise us when we're in that situation. He/She would be able to calm us and teach us to not be overpowered by our anger and instead, be calm and leave it up to HIM, because everything that happens to us, be it good or bad have its own reason behind it.

(3) It should also not distance our relationship with our family especially our parents. Being in a relationship do not compel you to spend every waking minute with your partner. Instead you're supposed to be able to balance spending your time with everyone that you love, be it your family, your friends and even yourself. When a relationship takes too much of your time, I'd suggest you to run because that is not how a relationship should be. A good relationship would enable you to make time for your family, especially your parents because they are your top-most priority; your friends and yes, even yourself.


Well then, those are a few essentials that I could think of right now. Would update them once I could think of more essentials that contributes to a good relationship.

Till then, much love from me *huGs* :)

Salaam.

.Hero.

Salaam.

It's a good feeling, knowing that we've someone by our side when we're lonely or troubled by our worries. But sometimes, there would come a time when we've to face the world/obstacles alone. Sometimes, we've just got to be our very own hero.... :)




I used to listen to this song everyday when I was younger, never fails to lift my spirits up... :))

"There's a hero if you look inside your heart,
You don't have to be afraid of what you are,
There's an answer if you reach into your soul,
And the sorrow that you know would melt away....

And then a hero comes along,
With a strength to carry on,
And you cast your fears aside,
And you'll know you can survive,
So when you feel like hope is gone,
Look inside you and be strong...and you'll finally see the truth;
That a HERO lies in you..." :)

********

There's a HERO in each and everyone of us. We've just got to believe in our strengths and have faith that HE would not test us with any obstacles/challenges if HE doesn't think that we could come out of it stronger.

*huGs*

Much love,
Me

.Surahs. :)

Surah Fatiha- protects one from the anger of Allah.

Surah Yaseen- from the thirst of the Day of Judgement.

Surah Waaqiah- from poverty and starvation

Surah Mulk- from the punishment of the grave

Surah Kausar- from the enemity of the enemy

Surah Kaafiroon- from kufr at the time of death

Surah Ikhlaas- from hypocrisy

Surah Falaq- from calamities.

Surah Naas- from Evil thoughts.

Source: Tumblr

.From my heart to yours.

Salaam. :)

So what do you do when an acquaintance comes to you for help, and asked you to write something that could lift her spirits up? You teared up. Why? Cause you're touched, that's why. And then you began to think of ways to write a perfect 'little note' so that the note could (1) lift her spirits up and (2) impress her. Pffft!

But then, you sat in front of your lappie and then you just stared at it for the longest time before it hits you. No good advise comes from the intention to impress someone. It should come from the heart. And what comes from the heart usually comes from experience. And I have that. Experience, that is.

Yes, we're talking about me. An acquaintance wrote to me earlier today, asking me to help 'lift' her spirits up because her partner left her. With no reason, no words. Poof, and he was gone.

So here it goes, dear friend. This note is written especially for you because you seek my help, and I hope you would feel a little better after reading this. I have no magical potion to ease your pain away, but I hope these few words string into sentences could. *huGs*

********

Dear friend,

I know you're hurting right now, but trust me - the hurt would ceased away in due time, and though your heart may be scarred - someone would come to collect all the pieces of your heart one day and make you whole again. InsyaAllah.

When someone we love leaves us, we'd usually feel so hurt and lost that we'd think to ourselves that surely, this is the end of the world. We'd feel numb, and for a certain period of time - we'd refuse to think that we could be happy again. But we could. Trust me, we could. I'm living proof of that. I've been hurt plenty of times, up to the point where it hurts so much that everyday became a blur. I was like a zombie, emotionless - drifting through life, just because I had to. During this period however, I had friends who were very supportive, hence that eased the pain a little. And I had HIM. So my advise to you is to surround yourself with your closest friends, family and HIM so that you won't feel lonely.

Getting better however is another matter entirely. Friends and family can motivate you, but you have to WANT to feel better yourself. Only then would you be able to move on and be stronger than before. Crying is an alternative to feeling better. Some would say, "Why should you be crying for him? He's not worth your tears!" Perhaps he's not. But when you cry, you'd feel better. And when you cry, that reflects that you've a heart and that you're brave. Why? Because you took a risk to share your heart with someone. That's bravery. It is no easy task to 'give away' your heart to someone, and loving someone takes courage because you never know if it would work out or not. So don't be sad, be PROUD! That you were brave enough to take the risk to love and be loved in return.

I know that you loved him and you're hurting, but have you ever thought that, perhaps this 'disaster' happened because he was not meant for you? I know that at this particular moment, it'd be hard for you to accept that fact but everything always happens for a reason, dear. It always has and it always will. So perhaps, although it may be impossible for you to accept that fact now but perhaps, when you're ready - you could. Because every single thing that happens, has been written in HIS Luh Mahfuz. Believe HIM; everything that has happened or would happen to you, me and the rest of us have a reason to it.

And perhaps, when a 'disaster' such as this happens, it's HIS sign of letting us know that HE's there. And it's time for us to strengthen our bond to HIM. According to Hadith Qudsi,

"Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) said:
If you never felt pain or experienced problems, how would you know I'm the Healer?
If you never made a mistake, how would you know I'm the Forgiver?
If you were never hurt, how would you know I am the Comforter?
If your life was perfect, then why would you need Me?"

Take this opportunity to turn to HIM, He's the BEST Healer, BEST Forgiver and BEST Comforter in the whole world. Use this sad time of yours to make yourself stronger by being close to HIM. InsyaAllah my dear friend, HE'd listen and heal your heart. After all, HE's the BEST listener too. We need not shout to HIM in order to be heard. HE KNOWS. HE knows everything there is to know about us, so turn to HIM. And insyaAllah, when the time is right, and when it's meant to be - HE'll grant you your wish of being happy, with someone who would love you, treasure you and know your worth. And most importantly, one that would make you be a better person and a better muslimah. InsyaAllah.

********

I hope the above 'note' would lift your spirits and dry your tears, but I know that a heartbreak such as yours would need some time to heal. I only hope that it won't take too much time however. May HE ease your pain and bring you joy, laughter and PEACE in this time of sadness. But most importantly, may this 'disaster' makes you a stronger and better person too. *huGs*

Salaam.

Much love,
Me.

p.s. La Tahzan my dear. <3

.Mindless Blabbering.

Song playing in the background: Shontelle's "Say Hello To Goodbye"

I've all these pent-up emotions in my heart, (not too sure exactly what it is regarding) and I don't even know if my hands are able to type out everything that I'm currently feeling at the moment out onto this bloggy, or not.

Funny how a few years back; listening to the song above would leave me sobbing my heart out. I've tears now too. But this time around, it's not sad tears but a grateful one instead..praise to Allah.. :)

Life has changed dramatically these past two years. I've recently finished my MBA *weeee*, and I've got a great family who loves me (was about to say adore, but that's a tad too over kan? lol) and friends who treasures me. So Alhamdulillah sangat sangaaaaat! *beaming with happiness*

That's not to say that I don't have few problems of my own. I do. But perhaps, due to the above factors that I've listed above, I'm now able to accept all the mishaps and dissatisfaction that has happened to me or well, those that WILL happen to me in the future with a bit more ease. Is that the word? Pfft, not sure! But that's the word that came up to me awhile ago, so we'll use that word la kay? :)

Anws, having said that - I guess it also helps that of late, I've also been able to accept that things usually happens for a reason, most if not all the time. I've come to accept that sometimes, even though I've prayed so hard to get something, if it's not meant to be, it will never be. Allah. HE's just awesome laa. HE is. I'm certain that HE has a bigger plan for me, one that none of us can ever imagine in our wildest dreams. So, I guess..sometimes I need to stop worrying that much, and let it be. BUUUUT, of course I need to show some effort too. Cause with great effort, insyaAllah there'll be GREAT reward. I can't just do nothing and wait around for HIS reward, can I? And yes, I've to be patient too cause honey, patience is key ;)

Salaam.

.Alhamdulillah. :')

Alhamdulillah. :)

After what seemed like a looooooong time, our advisor finally approved of our proposal and questionnaire draft. You don't know how happy that made me!! Only because, time is running out and I had hope to start distributing those questionnaires like TWO WEEKS ago! *phew!~

Anywho, won't complain any longer cause it's finally approved! *weeeeeeee!~*

We would still need to amend some stuff, but the keyword here is SHE HAS APPROVED! So, ALHAMDULILLAH! :D

*******

I am a fan of motivational quotes or anything that is inspirational. Some might see me as an annoyance *lol* cause I never fail to try to share anything that is POSITIVE on my FB page. Sorry peeps!! But there's a reason why FB created a 'hide' newsfeed button. If I proved to be such an annoyance to you guys, feel free to hide my updates yea? *Honest-to-goodness, I won't be mad! And I definitely would not avoid you* :)))

Anws, another reason why I am beyond happy today is because some people have expressed their gratitude to me for inspiring them. I was utterly speechless when they said that, and more so humbled by their compliments. Thank you, thank you so much. Hanya Allah yang boleh membalas jasa dan budi baik kamu semua for making me happy.. May Allah bless all of you always, InsyaAllah. Ameen. *huGs*

Having someone compliment you on your looks/outfits once in awhile is nice. But what's nicer is when someone comes up to you and tells you that you've had a hand in inspiring them to live their lives in a better and happier way... :)

.I may not be able to inspire or change the world; but knowing that I've had an impact on someone's life certainly humbles me. And it means the world to ME. Thank YOU. ♥

Real Love Story

Salam :)

It's been ages since I last wrote an entry 'here', forgive me.

A lot of things has happened between then and now. Don't think that I'll have the time to blog about it all, but I guess it is suffice to say that I am now stronger, and more content and more grateful with what I have. Alhamdulillah :)

Anws, I was reading about Imam Ali and his wife, Sayedda Fatima at this link; http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=6244. And I can't help but teared up when I read this.

Lubna, a cousin of mine called me a 'romantic at heart'. Maybe I am. I don't know. Lol. I love watching and reading about love stories. It makes me happy.

But though I love dreaming about those fictional love stories, as I grow older - I began to value real love stories more. There is real value in a love shared between two people. My grandparents for example. Their story always puts a smile on my face, and yes, it always teared me up a little too. They were two people who stuck together against all odds, and loved each other till the end. (May Allah bless them both and reward them the gift of Jannah, InsyaAllah)

Jid was the first to 'leave', and if I were to be honest, Baba was never the same anymore...

I was telling Widaad the other day about the dream I had when Baba passed away. The night when we had 'sent Baba off', I had a dream. I dreamt of Jid, he was very smiley, and I asked him, "Where are you going?" He said, "Home." And I saw Baba, I asked her, "Where you're going?" And she replied, "Following your grandpa.."

I had that dream a year ago, and I am so blessed to be able to dream about them both. In fact, if I remember it correctly - I had a dream when Jid passed away too. We were in a car, and I remembered vaguely that Auntie Lamah was in it too. I can't remember if there was a conversation but if I'm not mistaken, Jid and I exchanged looks from the rearview mirror.

Widaad said that those dreams I had is somewhat magical, and might be true. I don't know, I kinda think it is too. Still, only Allah knows the real truth to those dreams... Whatever it is, I'm grateful for 'em, cause to me that is a form of letting go. MY personal goodbye to them both.

Anws, while others raved about Romeo & Juliet and other fantastic love stories that has happened over the past decades or the recent few years, I've realized I've found comfort in reading about real love stories that occurred during the Prophet SAW's time, like the love shared between Imam Ali & Sayedda Fatima, or the fact that our Prophet SAW's (PBUH) love for Khadija never ceased even after her death.

Such comfort I had that I can't help but feel a little emotional at times, reading about 'em. I could only hope that my love story would be half as great as theirs. I'm not looking for a fairytale love story, but one that is long-lasting, true, honest, loving and kind would do. And when I marry, I hope I'd be a dutiful and loving wife just like Khadija was to my beloved Prophet SAW (PBUH). InsyaAllah....

Before I end this entry, I just had to share this quote with you cause it touched my heart when I read this;

Imam Ali said this about his wife, Sayedda Fatima;
"She was a flower from heaven, who came and went, but whose scent shall forever remain in my mind..." ♥

*huGs*

p.s. http://navedz.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/prophet_muhammad_saw__khadijah_ra_the_greatest_love/