A beautiful friday

Hubby promised  a subway sandwich if I would wake up early and wake him up too :P

So I was up by the first ring of the alarm, bright and fresh. :D
Women never forget the good things u tell them...when i woke my hubby up and told him its time for the subway treat, he was like...umm..u never forget these kinds of things, do you? Hehe..true that...I love subway man!

So dream number 56 " Early morning subway breakfast outing with hubby" fulfilled :) Alhamdulillaah.

As we were returning, hubby stopped by a near by store to get something. It was wrapped in paper, so i cudnt figure out what it was. When I asked him, he just said its some sort of plant he needed.

When we reached home, he pulled out a beautiful rose and handed it over to me with a warm " I love you"


Some unexpected moments bring soo much happiness, that you are left speechless....like how I am now :')

Umm Anas' poem for her deceased son

As the caravans of sadness have approached us, where are the tears to console us?
We do not cry over our afflicted because of Qadar, but we drink the bitter sadness as a sweet drink.
Because there is no objection to what our Qadar has brought, nor do we object to what our Creator decided, but with the shrouding leaving, we bleed with sadness.
O Allah, please forgive us for our tears on Anas, as he was the star taking us through darkness.
Our lord, make eternal blessings his resting place and send down upon us patience as our companion in hardship.
---------------





Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'oun. Shaykh Muhammed Saleh Almunajjid, the founder and manager of the famous Islam QA website, is praying Janazah on his own son Anas, who was stabbed to death by unknown people this Fajr.


I cant imagine a father praying Janazah on his own son :"( May Allah grant us all husnul khatimah and a smooth passing to our Almighty.

!!!! Dunya is temporary. Work for the hereafter.

Coolness to my Eyes

Studying in UIA brings you one of the most wonderful gift of all times: Great friends.

The one thing that I missed the most after graduating was the company of my beloved friends of UIA.
Trustworthy, Loyal, Calm, Fun, Enthusiastic, Pious, Encouraging, Honest, Courageous and the list goes on and on if I wanna describe my best friends from UIA. No matter which country we hail from, we all share a common language of love and deeper understanding, and that's what matters the most.Its like the sweetest emotion to feel when you have them all around you, the chatter, the fun, the masti and most importantly that feeling of bliss that Allah has given you one of the most precious gifts- good company.

I love my friends to bits and having them over home this weekend completely uplifted my spirits and made me a more cheerful person at heart.

I cant thank them all enough for travelling so far from UIA to visit me and stay back for a night of fun, despite their very busy schedules! May Allah reward them.

Cooking and baking for them was even more joyous! My preggie state got me a lil exhasuted but my husband to my rescue all way and what can be more fun than cooking dinner with your husband!
So while he made his signature vegetable pulao, I was onto baked chicken pasta, potato salad, spicy brinjal chutney, Tzatziki and some caramel pudding for the dessert topped with choc cake and icecream and mint tea! So much fun eating together.

What comes next? A sareeeee dressup! I cant tell you how it felt to see my friends (each from a different country) finely draped in ma sarees! what a cherry to my eyes! it was soo much fun designing the whole thing  with Sam and Siddi and making them all look somewhat indian with the ornaments. All of them looked extremely gorgeous and divine!
A night of friends, good food and masti brought about an excellent morning to waking up to the smiles of your friends and cooking yummy chicken sandwiches together for breakfast.
Broga Hills, discovering the place around and a visit to a nearby resort.

And then the saddest part. Departure.
As much as my heart wanted to hold each one of them and keep them with me forever, i realize that this is Dunya and everything comes to an end here. Life goes on.And all of them have a journey to take.
We are all travelers and need to stop at our stations.

However, the sweet feeling lingers and motivates you to carry forward to achieve your goals to meet them all in  a better place and at a better time and everlastingly in Jannah Insha'Allah.

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her
baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming
children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.

I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.

I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.

I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
- Author unknown

Cant believe its been a whole two months and I'm married!!

Life is indeed a journey and tying the knot was something really beautiful.

Nordic Flower

The sands of the desert of Egypt tell a beautiful story…

Of a tired traveller making his way out in search of a nearest inhabited land..
On reaching the city of Madyan after travelling for many days, hunger and weariness pulls him to retreat under the shade of a tree.

The traveller saw a large well surrounded by a group of people watering their livestock and two young girls waiting for the men to finish so that they could water theirs.
The traveller approached the girls in a manner so dignified and offered them help without them even asking for it. Thereafter, he went back to rest under the shade of the tree.

No vain talk. No checking out the ladies. No address requests.

How modest, Subhana’Allah was our Prophet Musa(AS)! And how modest were the two women in upholding the manner of dealing with the opposite gender.

This legendary story carves the beauty of shyness in our hearts so deep.

Being shy has become a rare gem in today’s “so called modern” world.Yet our beautiful Islam upholds this very virtue as one of the branches of faith. And this branch of faith roots from our heart!

How indeed beautiful is this shyness for the sake of our Rabb.To use what He has given us from His Immense Mercy for seeking His pleasure alone.

Every soul has a beautiful shyness embroidered to it..
Be it your regular general classrooms or volunteering for Islamic programs, be it a festive family gathering or your best friend's wedding, be it your corporate work field or your gym space, make it a point to observe this beautiful quality in every walk of your life.
Embrace this shyness. Cherish it and preserve it.
For on that Day when we meet our Rabb, this very shyness will be the crown for our glowing face. Insha'Allah :)

Shyness still exist. I call it the Nordic flower ;)

One Step Closer..

Sometimes I wonder what is our “mind” made of…..so complex…..so unique..each one! Subhana’Allah!

When you try to analyze every moment of your life, you realize you have a million wonders to ponder upon.

Is it just the brain power with the millions of nerves that somehow has a way of tickling every part of our senses or is it the heart?

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
“Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind]” (Qur’an, 50:37)

In the middle of a thousand words and a million people, Ya Allah, I wish I could know what is best for me at this moment.

Sometimes, it's good to step outside yourself and comprehend the beauty of that one Defining moment that you are truly blessed with.

And forever realize that every moment is but one step closer. One step closer to your Lord. Just like a rain drop.Here now, gone a second later.

Stay Awake while Alive.

 

 

 

Rain Wash!

A bright luminous sundrenched day.

Perfect time to launder, thought lil sharmi :P
After spending the entire morning washing the bundles of clothes (thanks to hostel life), I could finally get to my lab for some research work.

As the beautiful Friday afternoon passes by, the sun is also taking its leave.As I look out of my office window, I am flabbergasted to see thick black clouds hovering above. The unkind scorching morning brought such an undecisive afternoon..then I thought to myself..ah well…this is Malaysia! You can experience all four seasons in just a day here! This country is a Masha’Allah…!

So as the pregnant clouds lingered….ready to pour on…my heart was itching to walk back to my hostel to pick my freshly laundered clothes as I really didn’t want them to get wet.
But work kept me till evening.And finally as I went back, I was surprised to see the clothe line empty!
I tried looking around and asking my friends if they picked my clothes for me but it wasn’t the case.
So Wow..they are all gone!

As a disheartened Sharmi walked back slowly...thinking of how to get some cloth shopping done at the earliest, she saw a huge blanket of clothes wrapped up neatly and placed on a slab of the resting area down her block.
As much as I could be happy to see my clothes back, I was soo touched, at the thought of someone who would just pick all my clothes up and place it neatly in a sheltered area just bcuz it was about to rain.

This small deed might sound so simple, yet it brightened my day and taught me that small good deeds that are done solely for the pleasure of Allah bring about so much contentment.

I donot know who did that out of sheer kindness, but as my friend says, she definitely must have been a “garden angel”.
And I pray Allah helps us to learn from this garden angel to be steadfast in good deeds, whether big or small!

Do something today to earn someone's smile and enjoy the joy of being anonymous! ;)

The crab story

Patience is indeed one of the most beautiful lessons of life.

That day, as I stood at the beach shores and watched the waters hit the sand, I saw a tiny crab try its best to come out of its hole...everytime it would make an effort to come out, the waters would gush forth, leaving it to sink inside.I stared at this tiny little thing for a while...seconds passed, minutes passed, but this little creature of Allah did not give up.At every safe moment, at the relapse of the beach waters, the crab would pop its head out again to make its way out.

I wondered what is the tiny lil thing seeking.

And then it hit me hard.

As much as I watched it struggle and feel the need to help it out, I sat back silently, watching. Why?
As much as I appreciated its efforts, I wanted it to make its own way out of the hole.Why?
As much as I despised the cruel waters, I appreciated it.Why?

Well, for a lil crab, I'm a Giant.
But ain't for a lil me, Allah the Sustainer?

He watched me silently, as I struggle through the ocean of life but in the end, this water is not meant to drown us, instead it is to cleanse us and help us come out of our "holes" with truly deserved hard earned success.

Trust Allah and appreciate the cruel waters.
Believe in the power of Dua and what you will get is what you needed.
Imbibe the art of patience in every climbing of life.
Seek the love of Allah in being patient.

After all, this Dunya is nothing but testing waters of your faith. So ace it :)

A Humbling Experience

Tonight was special.
Tonight Allah gave me a chance to witness poverty.
Tonight Allah showed me what it means to feel "REAL" hunger.
Tonight Allah taught me the value of being grateful for the blessing of being taken care of by my parents.
Tonight Allah showed me how it is to feel the warmth of another human being.

Tonight I realized,

I may not have everything, but everything I have keeps me Happy.
I may not say everything, but anything I say speaks of Gratitude.
I may not have food to eat, but every time I eat, gives me Hope for another day to live.
I may not understand your problems, but in my eyes, you can see the Beauty of living life without complaints.
I am not you, but you are Me.

#Indeed, one of the most humbling experience to share the streets with these beautiful people of peace.
May Allah SWT reward all the silent soldiers of I Can Feed The Poor campaign. The Prophet (SAWS) would be sooooo proud of you if he was here with us today! Keep going, by Allah!

Tonight, I realised how poor I am.

 

Clue

If you see that your heart is becoming hard and your body is becoming weak and your provision is decreasing, know that you are involved in that which doesn’t concern you.

-Malik ibn Dinar

Expecting the Best from Allah

“In accordance with how good your expectations of and hope in Allah are and how truthful your reliance and trust are in Him, Allah will not betray your hopes in the least, as He does not betray the hopes of those who hope and does not cause any effort to go to waste.” 

-Abu Muhammad

The Walk of Faith

For most of us, walking through the bridge located in the center of UIA has been a routine activity. It’s beautiful how the petite bridge connects the two parts of UIA. Many a times as I walk along the bridge, I often appreciate how pleasurable the walk is and how by the time I realize, I’m already at the other end of the bridge. Sometimes, a beautiful fountain springs into life and adds a nice cooling touch to the overall saunter. It’s splendid as to how the bridge is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery around- the river beneath, the exquisite masjid in front, the towering mountains from behind and the happy blue sky above. Indeed how picturesque.

And then one fine day as I walk through the very same bridge, I could no longer see the river or the mountains.I feel intense heat surrounding me and flames gushing forth from underneath. It’s dark and scary and I hear people yelling in pain. As I put my foot on the bridge to cross, I realize the bridge has become sharper than a sword and finer than a hair strand and I’m afraid to put my next foot on. I can see someone ahead of me who has fallen. My feet are getting hurt from the obstacles but I just want to hold on. Then I start to see light. Light which is inexplicably different for each one of us. For some, it is as tall as a palm-tree, whereas for some others, it’s like their shadows. How long will it take for me to reach the other end? It seems like forever. But I can see some people passing by like the blink of an eye, some like a lightning bolt, some like a bird, and some as if on a noble horse. Yet some others cross it crawling and some are snatched and thrown beneath. What is going on? Why has the walk on the bridge become so agonizing?

Alas, I remember the saying of our Prophet (S.A.W.S) “And the Bridge is laid down over Hell and I and my Ummah will be the first to cross it. None but the Messengers will speak then, and their invocation will be ‘O Allah! Grant us safety! Grant us safety!”( Muslim) Al-Sirat, The Bridge, before me- the final test of truth and the exodus begins to paradise or to hell. As I’m drawn back to reality, I realize the most certain truth, that one day we will be tested on the walk of our faith. Our walk on this path is up to us, our speed on this bridge is up to us, our fall is up to us, the obstacles which will hurt, are up to us.

My beloved fellow Muslims, we are here now, in this world, where the light is, where the opportunity is, where the preparation for the walk is. 

Let’s Light up our Path in the after-life by being heedful of the commands of our Lord. Let’s begin our walk here and conclude it in the courtyard of paradise.
Insha’Allah.

Feel what must be felt.

I learned something today.

Again.
This is Dunya. Dunya. Not a place of ease. Only glitter.
The place where you have to feel cold and hungry.

The place where you have to worry and feel scared.
The place where it gets cold.
So cold, sometimes.
The place where you have to leave the people you love.
Where you can’t get attached, because even if you do, it doesn't make it stay, it just makes it hurt when it doesn't.
The place where happiness and sadness are only players, waiting for their next line in a play.
Competing for their place on stage.
The place where gravity makes you fall, and frailty makes you bleed.
The place where sadness exists, because it must.
And tears fall to remind you of a place where they don’t.
Where they just don’t.
And isn't that just it? Isn't Jannah that place after all,
that place that Allah describes over and over and over in 2 ways?

La khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanoon…
On them shall be no fear…nor shall they grieve.

[Yasmin Mogahed]

Metamorphosis

Every change brings with it a refreshed spirit.

Be it walking barefoot to feel the greens or climbing the hills to kiss the clouds, be it studying in the open verandas or trying the cuisine from the opposite end of the world, be it learning the art of  painting or drowning in the aroma of fresh baking, change is something that encapsulates the heart and mind to see light from a different angle.

There is a time in each of our life when a change is expected and needed.

  

                         Embrace this change. Welcome it and live it.

After all, the future comes one day at a time =)

 Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become!

 

Little Thanks Do We Give.

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La ilaha illaallah, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Walillahil Hamd!

The Eid festive is here again.

It was a glorious morning with the sky spread out as a beautiful canopy. Delicate winter with the sun’s rays peeping from the clouds and providing the much needed warmth.

Happy people with their best outfits on, fill the spaces on the Eid prayer ground. Little kids cuddle beside their mothers. Shaking hands, hugs and kisses filled the air.
We find our space and gradually settle down…reciting the dhikr, waiting for the iqamah.

In those silent moments, I noticed a young girl, with her mother, place her prayer mat in front of us…As she tried to button up her abaya, I noticed something peculiar.…her fingers couldn't move. I thought maybe it was the frosty weather that made her fingers remain stiff...but when her mother gradually drew in to help her button up and take off her shoes, I realized that I was sadly mistaken. She really was unable to move her fingers.

SubhanAllah.

I cried and thanked Allah for granting us a simple yet the most basic blessing in our lives--the ability to move our limbs.

His countless blessings encircle us all the time. Little thanks do we give.

 

 

 

Light

Far across the skies
the pen moves
The tales of man
are delicately laced

Boundless is the wisdom
of The Hand
That moves the pen
like a wand

Babies born, children grow
young marry, old die
Life meanders
as the pen ticks on

Ocean rises, trees grow
wind blows, flowers fall
Horizon beams on
as the pen ticks on

Every delicate soul
has a story untold
Every fleeting moment
has a reason unknown

Alas! One Truth
wipes out all lies
God is One
and so is this life.

Death awaits
on each doorstep
Grave darkness
has it to offer.

Heaven or Hell?
It shall be Decided.
On That Day
When the pen has halted

You and your deeds
Before your Lord
Your Final Destiny
Before you

Walk in light
to keep your goals in sight
Make it to your eternal life
safe.

 

~Sharmi

 

 

Celebrate People

There’s something so special about relationships.
They can soar you up into the seven heavens or bring you down to the deepest oceans.

A special chemical bond made by Allah SWT to form an orbit of happiness within and around ourselves.
Sometimes I wonder-- How it would be like to live alone…just by yourself and the trees maybe. A cup of tea perhaps. No cell phones. No internet. No human touch.

Can’t imagine right?

From family to friends, from spouse to children, from teachers to students, from Boss to colleagues, our life revolves around people. Companionship, friendship, fellowship, love and mercy.
The Lord of the creations knows exactly what HIS creation needs.

Amidst a tough semester of research, feels soo good to take time out with my loved ones and rejuvenate the bond of being together. How beautiful it is when you can feel the love and warmth of another human being. Makes you want to create and adorn beautiful happiness just for them.

Be it Mom, Dad, family, your favourite aunty or your best buddy, the street sweeper or your home cleaner, in the end, every human being needs to be celebrated. In the best of ways.
For Allah loves kindness and He loves that you be kind to HIS creation.

Give time to your fellow human beings and receive the gift of love.

Ask yourself-- Who’s heart did your reach today? Who remembered you just because you bring a smile on their face? Who’s burden was lightened at the thought of your radiant soul? Who’s searching for you just because you love them?

Celebrate people. Celebrate Love. :)

The given Love.

There are moments when you feel Allah's Love in His creations and these are the moments you need to search for.To be in awe in HIS beautiful carvings and makings.In HIS marvelous painting of the skies. In HIS distinguished shades of the ocean waters. In HIS soft touch of the bird wings.In HIS gentleness in the breeze.In HIS kindness through the gift of nature.

Live.Love.Realize.Thank HIM.