My life does not belong to me

That is the philosophy of a friend of mine. She believes in giving back to society, helping others and sharing what good that Allah has given her for the better of Mankind. Alhamdulillah.

So today when I saw her face in the newspaper, I was so happy for her. She was one of the students who got accepted into the University scholarship programme and is being sent to various places like Thailand and India to work with children who cannot afford to go to school. I think she will be sent there to teach them.

But what strikes me about this particular friend is how she continues to push herself despite all the difficulties that Allah has placed before her. I remembered in college, she was allocated a school that was very far from her home but she still went and did very well. And then in university, her father passed away, leaving her as the eldest at 22 years old to take care of the family. Her mother is a housewife and has no qualifications so she was afraid to start working at that time.

Well... I am so happy for her that Allah has given her this rezeki... may the scholarship open up more doors for her in the future... I remembered telling her after her father died that life was going to be tough... but she will always have her friends and family and she must never lose faith in God. When He takes something from us, He will return us something else in forms that we may not even expect.

I pray for her that she will always be in remembrance of Allah... and may He bless them with bountiful rezeki always. As she always says, 'my life does not belong to me' and yes... because it belongs to Allah.

Amin.

On weddings and Questions

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

It has been quite some time since I've written anything here. Masyaallah. I just did not have any ilham to write anything. However, today I went for a close friend's wedding and solemnization and I felt the need to write.

Although I am sad that I didn't get to take a photo with her, I am happy that at least I got to make doa for her during her solemnization, to ask Allah for blessings for her future. As Muslims, we all have alot to work on and improve so I hope that marriage is one way for her to become a better Muslimah... insyaallah. Hopefully she'll don the hijab someday too then at least I won't be the only one wearing it when we go out.  =)

I found a website (Ar Rihla)  with 100 Pre-Marital Questions that couples getting married ought to ask themselves. Hopefully the newly married couple have addressed some of these to secure a happy marriage in the future. As for me, I too hope that I can answer these questions someday with Hubtobe. Heh.

I doa for the best for them and that I pray that He blesses me with the same rezeki soon. 

 

Amin

Being a teacher

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Some time back, a friend of mine shared an incident about how she met her former professor who, when told that she was training to be a teacher, said that 'you wasted my time'. That must really hurt my friend alot.


This friend of mine is a really intelligent muslimah and one of the sisters whom I look up to. So when I read about her defense on teaching, I felt conflicted. One one hand, I agree with her professor that after four years of training to be a journalist, it becomes such a waste that one cannot contribute back into the field that lacks so much female muslim voices. But on the other hand, I agree and I also support this sister in her reasons for becoming a teacher.

I quote: And now after graduation, at this juncture, as I reflect upon my role as God's Creation and in the grander scheme of things, I feel that being a teacher is the best way for me to make some change in this wonky world. Many people say teachers become teachers because they feel the most powerful in the classroom, because they have 'no other jobs', because because because... But I'd like to say that the feeling of being able to bring younger individuals on a journey, to make them learn and learn with them, is a beautiful one.

As I seat here at NIE, trying to comprehend what has just happened to me, I realise I have the better option of being in control of my learning. That God has given me the best faculties to make sense of this world. And I hope the person realised I actually didn't waste the person's time.

In fact, the person has helped me to realise the dimensions of the larger goal I have in life.

I didn't waste your time. You were one of the people who made me into a better someone.

Masyaallah... [by the way, if you're reading this, please don't mind that I quote this from you]

As for me, many people ask me "What are you going to do after you graduate?" and seriously I don't like being asked that... Whatever I want to be or choose to want to be, are all hinged upon Allah's decisions...

Many people assume that I would also go into teaching... and many more tell me that I should. And I tell them that I cannot teach children whom I have no emotional connection with... I cannot teach them for a year or two or three and watch them go away into their own lives without me beside them. But I can teach adults... because they are responsible for their own learning and they are of equal standing to argue with. Surely one cannot expect a 7 year old child to defend himself on why he chooses to colour the bread black instead of brown or beige?

As a woman and as a Muslim, I feel there is more that I can do for the world and I want to contribute back with a greater force than if I were to be a teacher. There are already many sisters in the teaching fraternity... but how many have stepped up to be leaders of the country? or leaders of the judicial systems? win a Nobel prize? Not many...

I'm not saying I am hoping to do all those things... but for me... that's a starting point to consider the value of my future.

Alhamdullilah, we made it back in ONE piece!

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Today, my friends and I did our yearly visiting to each others' house... only that this year I am driving. =) 

I must say that driving the whole day is very tiring... especially when you have to focus on the road and on the conversations and on a 101 things at the same time.

But, Alhamdulillah, I managed to drive relatively calm, with no mishaps. My friends were so comfortable they ended up sleeping... but I am grateful for my friend sitting beside me who kept me alert by talking constantly.

I think I mentioned in another entry about how I'm so grateful to have friends such as these. They all pray on time and never miss their prayers. They are really good influence- socially, culturally and religiously. Truly, I am almost a complete opposite of what I used to be back in year one... and yet my friends stayed true to me; always patient and never judging.

Anyway, today at one of my friend's house, we played this game called Kalimaat by Baba Ali. Here. It's kinda like charades... but with a twist. And it also tests our knowledge on Islam as well as our memory skills. It turned out that I do have a good memory. Hahahaha. But what amazed me was that, 4 years back, I probably wouldn't know how to describe in a charades the word 'tirmidzhi' or 'miswak' or 'caliphs'. Yes... I am that embarrassingly un-learned. Masyaallah.

But Alhamdullillah, I am a better muslim now and I have my friends to thank for that. I only pray that our friendship will last till we have our own kids someday. Amin.  

Making friends

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Today after class, a year one girl approached me and asked me where's the musollah. Masyaallah... I was so touched.

Firstly, I was so honoured that she chose to ask me although there were other muslim girls in the class. Maybe Allah has deemed me the right person to direct her. And I am very grateful to have walked with her to the musollah although I can't pray. We talked about school and I gave her alot of advice as a senior to a junior.

Secondly, I was touched in that there are still good muslims out there who still remember to pray. Alhamdulillah... It made me realise that when I was her age 3 years ago... I had never asked that question before. =( I do not want to imagine how much sins I had back then or how many of my fasts were invalid because I did not pray back then. =( It made me sad.

But it also made me grateful that I have 4 very good muslim friends who stayed by me throughout (even when there was a time I wanted to distance from them for they were too halal for me). Astaghfiruallah... May Allah forgive me for that...

They gave me the guidance when I needed it- especially when I first started wearing the hijab and re-learning about Islam again... I am grateful to Allah for destining me to sit with them on the first day of school and for allowing me to have true friends whom I really love very much. Insyaallah we will be friends till we have our own children. Amin.

Innalillahi wa innalillahi rajiun...

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

Yesterday I was on the bus and bumped into one of my ex secondary school friend who also happens to be in the same university as me now. So we were talking and catching up on stuff when she told me about a mutual friend of ours who has had a misfortune.

The father of this mutual friend of ours recently had a stroke, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak or recognize his family. It so happen that this friend of ours went for an exchange programme and when she returned, her father did not even know who she was. That must have been so painful for her and family... and I can only imagine their torture. Innalillahiwainnalillahirajiun...

Although we were not close especially after we went to different classes in secondary three, I still will pray for her and her family to have the strength to get through this ordeal. Whether or not her father makes it through, I hope that she will not lose her faith in Allah... and I pray that Allah lessens the burden on her. See... she still has a year to go in uni and she still has younger siblings who are still schooling and i think her mother has been a housewife her whole life.

I feel very sad for her... and after hearing this news, I am grateful that my father has quit smoking for more than 20 years now... and that he is still healthy. Allah has given my family more rezeki by letting my father work overseas... and I can only pray that Allah, the sustainer of all life on earth, continue to bless us with such rezeki.

On this topic, I'd like to make a reference to this post I found online on how to use 'masyaallah', 'innalillah' and 'insyaallah' in the right context and not to misinterpret it.

Innalillahi wa innalillahi rajiun- from Him we come and to Him is the return of all.

My darling friend is getting married!!!

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

I just received a mail on facebook from one of my darling friends telling me that she's getting married!! Oh my goodness! I was so happy that I started laughing and crying at the same time. It's so unexpected! But Alhamdullilah for her... Allah has decided for her that she would get married at the end of this year and Insyaallah everything will go as plan.

My friend is a very beautiful lady and quite coveted by men. She's half dutch and half malay so you can imagine how beautiful she looks.

I am very thrilled really and I hope that Allah will protect her and her fiance and grant them with happiness and a blissful marriage.

Amin