Walimatul Urus

To: Sofinah & Khai, Siti Aisyah & Mohd Saiful, Nurul Aidah & Faimee…

“BarakalLahulaka wa barakah ‘alaik, wa jama’a bainakuma fi khair (sakinah, mawaddah wa rahmah) li qulli marhalahatin rijalluha, amin ya Rabb!”

Luqman

Allah SWT says, “We gave wisdom to Luqman so that he may be grateful to Allah. The one who pay thanks, does so for his own good; and the one who denies His favors, should know that Allah is certainly free of all wants, worthy of all praise.” (QS Luqman 31:12)

AlhamdulilLah, Luqman Nor Hadi was born on 1 Safar 1434H. May he grow up to be a righteous, grateful and wise servant of Allah SWT (as his name suggests) and may his living and striving benefit him, his family, the Ummah and society at large, in this world and in the Hereafter, aamin Allahuma aamiin! :)

A Woman's Dignity

The 'in your face' approach initially irked me but with the pearls of wisdom weaved in between, inter-twined with the plot, I can't help but recommend the youths of today to have a go and watch this movie.

Zahrana

Read the synopsis of a story based on the book by Ustaz Habiburahman el-Shirazy. Can't wait to catch this movie soon :)

Hablu mina-Allah

Managed to catch this movie via SCTV... sad but profound ending, subhan-Allah! May many among the Ummah find a spouse whose love for Allah SWT supersedes all other love, amin ya Rabb!

Walimatul Urus

AlhamdulilLah! Witnessed the akad of my dear cousin, Hidayat with Azie at Al-Hidayah mosque. I really love the simple but meaningful ceremony - my kind of wedding! BarakalLahulaka wa barakah ‘alaik, wa jama’a bainakuma fi khair (sakinah, mawaddah wa rahmah) li qulli marhalahatin rijalluha, amin ya Rabb! :)

P.S. Happy wedding anniversary Aunt Sal and Uncle Hamzah :)

Eid Mubarak 2012



TaqabalLahu minna wa minkum. Taqabal ya Kareem, amin ya Rabb!

Missing My Bestfriend

Just watched "27 dresses". Lucky girl, she married her bestfriend! Moral of the story - ladies, don't let the moment pass you by... but let the gentleman take the lead then you know, you got a good catch :)

In Remembrance

This week is in remembrance of my late sister-in law (today is her birthday) and dad (whose birthday falls on 7 June)! To my niece, Sarah... you'll remain brave and strong *hugs*...

Baby!

AlhamdulilLah! One of the many supplications during the recent Umrah trip has come true... Masya-Allah! What beautiful news when my second sister-in-law informed us the good news that she's pregnant! I'm looking forward to the bundle of joy in December (and the extended family continues to grow!). May Allah SWT bestow upon them a healthy baby who will grow up with a noble akhlaq and who will be of great benefit to the Ummah, amin ya Rabb!

Hikmah

Subhaan-Allah wal HamdulilLah AstaghfirulLah wa-Allahuakbar... HasbiyAllah! Reflecting on the lesson this week on Adab towards Allah SWT on the significance of Istighfar... it dawned on me on how Islam is beautiful and indeed simple... in that Allah's wisdom in making it so easy for Muslims to gain reward if we only knew and apply the prescribed life ordained to us. Allow me to end this post with Hadith Qudsi - "Allah's mercy precedes His wrath", subhaan-Allah!

P/S: May Allah SWT bestow upon Grandpa Said baraqah, good health, hidayah, istiqomah, rahmah, rizq' and taufiq, amin ya Rabb!

Two

 

AlhamdulilLah! By Allah's will, had the opportunity to meet up with a faqir ilalLah and his beautiful wife. I learnt a great deal about ikhlas, shakur, taqwa ilalLah and sobr from this beautiful soul, subhaan-Allah!

QS at-Talaq: 65: 3 came to mind - "... And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him...". Looking at the lovebirds, the song above came to mind. Indeed, marriage is about mecy and love and sticking by each other, no matter what! :)

P/S: On a separate note, may Allah SWT bestow shifa' upon the beloved dad of a friend (across the ocean) and may He (SWT) fills his heart with ikhlas, mahabbah, rahmah and sobr as he goes about taking care of his dad and mum the best he can, amin ya Rabb! :)

Fitrah

"While chemistry and attraction are no doubt important, character precedes them both. Why? Chemistry ignites the fire, but character keeps it burning.”

Love is part of mankind’s primordial state (fitrah). But the idea of falling “in love” should never be the sole reason for marrying someone; it is very easy to confuse infatuation and lust for love." Truly Islam is beautiful for advocating love after marriage. Why do you want to marry? For fun? For satisfying your desire?  Because everyone is doing it so I have to as well? For Allah? If it is for Allah, insya-Allah the sense of responsibility in oneself will ensure compatibility. Indeed character and chemistry is two different things (paradigm even!)

For Muslimah, a husband is everything after Allah SWT and RasululLah SAW. It is not right for me to waste my love to other men (through social dating, which is haram in Islam) if in the end, the one that will be there through thick and thin, in life and death will be someone called ‘husband’. So to ladies out there, save the saying of “I love you” for your husband once it is halal…

How does one know if the person is the right one? Istikharah (Hasbi Allah wa ni’mal waqil /Allah is sufficient for me and is the best trustee of affairs) and seek Allah’s redha. Insya-Allah, if both have the same fikrah (mentality/worldview), sincere intention (mardhatilLah) and follow RasululLah’s advise to pick one with a strong religious foundation above all things (recall what Ummi said, Those who kneel down to ALLAH can stand up for anything, subhaana-Allah!).

Afterthought: Everyone has a past. And the past is not to be judged, but to be learned. A good man will not force you to do something that will incur Allah’s wrath. If he is truly serious about you, he will make you halal asap. So choose wisely the one who will be the imam of your family. Wallahu'alam bissawab...

Anticipation

 

 Soon... will be on the much anticipated journey... in search of truth :)

Taqwa ilalLah

Was channel surfing and saw this movie closer to the end and floodgates were let loose... I cannot fathom how the baby girl would grow up without the love of her mum... and how her dad will cope with the lost of his love in the midst of bringing up the gift that will be a constant reminder of the demise of his loved one. It brought back memories, ala kulli haal. What is most important is the realisation of putting your trust in Allah SWT. When you love His creations, they will leave you as life in this world is temporal. I'll end this post by saying that the greatest strength is gentleness. Wallahua'lam bissawab.

Rainy Days & Mondays

It is nice to hear the sounds of Pat Metheny especially doing a rendition of The Beatles... Thanks to a dear friend for sharing this video with me... it made the rainy monday even more beautiful... so am gonna share the 'love', ha!

Indeed, may Allah's blessings, just like the gift of beneficial rain, be upon us so hurry to supplicate for it is reported that rainy days are one of those moments when our supplications are answered, pronto! Truly, Allah knows best :)

Lessons from a 6-Year Old

A beautiful movie, adapted from a novel, of which many lessons could be learnt from a 6-Year Old :)

Redha

My heart instinctively went out to my dear niece after the demise of her mum (may Allah SWT bless her soul for to Him we came from and to Him we shall return) this week... I could not fathom if I was in that tragic state (and oh how close I am to Ummi... she's my life!), hence no matter how I try to convince myself that I fully understand what my 13-year old niece is going through, I'd be lying as I could never fully feel the pain! May Allah SWT bestow the patience and sincerity in my beloved niece to let go and redha.

Three things continue to benefit the dead after one' death - her amal jariah and beneficial knowledge she taught others in her lifetime as well as her child who supplicates to Allah and seeks His forgiveness for her. May Siti Maisarah remember this and be steadfast in her supplication for her beloved late mum, insya Allah, amin Allahuma amin.

Anti-Cyberbullying

[Source courtesy of Childnet International]

Reflecting on today's session and listening to constructive feedback from all perspectives, there's room for improvement for a programme that is in its first year of inception. I pray that the team have the compassion for the kids and the passion for learning to continually improve while maintaining the focus and stamina to do meaningful work, insya Allah ameen Allahuma ameen!

Miss Rania

I can't wait for lil Miss Rania to make her passport in January and visit her ole auntie... Miss her to bits :)

Responsibility

It is so easy to attribute a success to one's hard work as though you earned it; failing to see Allah's grace, generosity, love and mercy. Subhan Allah wal hamdulilLah wala illah ha ilalLah Allahu Akbar. With Allah's grace, may I be able to expedite the amanah (responsibility) assigned to me to the best of my ability and may Allah SWT protect me from istidraj, insya Allah ameen ya Rabbal 'alameen.

Afternote: I'm instinctively reminded of mum's advice - "Allah will not forsake those who seek out His guidance and remain steadfast in prayer", subhan Allah... inna lilLahi wa inna ilaihi rojiun :)

Instinctively Amiss

Hmm, in the midst of my busy work schedule, I instinctively felt this odd hunch that something is amiss but could not put my finger to it. Shall not lose sleep over it, alhamdulilLah ala kulli hal. When the time is ripe, it'll come to me, insya Allah :)

Sorry to hear that Regy was down with DVT. I'll pop by this weekend with hot baked muffins, yum, after the earlier ones were eaten by my nephews, ha! Yes they are that nice. Shall leave you with a beautiful monologue from one of the touching movies I've had a chance to catch, learnt alot from it :)

Assessment D&D

AlhamdulilLah, glory to Allah SWT for enabling me to gain the Statement of Attainment (SOA) in the design and delivery of assessment module under the ACTA series by Singapore National Employer's Federation (SNEF). This new competencies strengthen my conviction of getting it right at the onset of any undertaking and one has to take the time to research and elicit the root of the issue before proposing a solution.

Afternote: 2 CUs completed last year, 2 CUs this year, 2 more to go next year, insya Allah ameen ya Rabb. Already, I can see the workload piling up, as hinted by my beloved supervisor, alhamdulilLah ala kulli hal :)

Usabiliity Bootcamp

Had a blast this week at the Usability Bootcamp organised by the great guys at Pebbleroad (thanks guys!). Christine Perfetti shared great examples of user-friendly design and I met some great folks during the networking session. The information I gained will come in handy when I get started on the next project - revamping the company's website... and you thought Instructional Designers just design and develop courseware! Don't ask... that was a vent ;P

Afterthought: I stand by my conviction, that great design is truly about empathy :)

Taqwa & Hal

[Source courtesy of I Luv Islam]

Nur Rania Adriana

[Photo courtesy of Norhisham Isnin]

On 2 Nov 2010, this sweet and adorable baby girl was born into this world. May she grow up to be the light (Nur) of Purity, Contentment (Rania) and Integrity (Adriana; Nisbah Afaf) that her name suggests, submitting fully to the will of Allah SWT. Can't wait to hold her in my arms :)

Brother

Today will be a short post. I'm proud of my younger brother for saying his piece via the Newpaper about the recent case that happened at Singapore's sports school. Its great to have such Physical Education teacher taking a firm stand on such things. Yes, it is a privilege (not a right) and parents of such errant kids should be educated or reminded if they do not realise it yet. Enough said!

Muhd Hanis Irfan

This free greeting created with Smilebox

 

May Allah SWT bestow you with a meaningful life full of patience, wisdom and the tireless dedication to seeking knowledge towards becoming a useful citizen of this world and the Hereafter, ameen ya Rabbal 'Alameen *hugs*

Family

It was great catching up with a good 'ole friend' after so long. AlhamdulilLah, he gives good, logical advice...Yes, I admit sometimes women tend to be irrational although the degree of rationality is subjective, ha! Subhan Allah, that is the fitrah of women, different from men :)

Anyway, have a safe flight, take care and see you real soon. Hugs and kisses to mama Zehra and papa Hasan. TaqabbalLahu minna wa minkum, taqabalLahu ya Karim, minal aidin wal faizin :)

Impending Arrival

Masya Allah, alhamdulilLah ala kulli haal... just spoke to my sister-in-law and she shared the good news that her third child would probably be a baby girl :)

For us in Singapore, we will pray that the delivery in November will be smooth sailing and that mother and child be safe and baby be healthy, Ameen ya Rabbal 'Alameen.

Afternote: Mum's prayers came true, subhan Allah... La hawla wala kuwata ilLah bilLahil 'Azeem :)

The Chant of the Victorious

As I reflect on the meaning of the 'Eid Takbir... sad nostalgia rests on my heavy heart. Truly Ramadhan is about spiritual cleansing; not about being busy with shopping for cookies, new clothes, new coat of paint and fresh set of curtains, cushion covers, etc to prepare for Syawal. May Allah SWT protects us from emulating the millah of the jahiliah (culture/way of life of the ignorant), ameen ya Rabb.

Mama

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss, at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. For a mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among her children and each child still have all her love. For a mother's love grows by giving."

A tribute to my light, my strength... no words of gratitude could do justice for all that you've done.

Be There

Short post today. Here's to a friendship so true. Thank you for accepting me, faults and flaws included.

Appreciation

Masya Allah, thanks for this dedication and the early birthday greetings. Indeed a nice song from a talent who can strum the guitar, play the piano and pen beautiful lyrics. All I can say is that it is not the wait that matters, if its meant to be, it will happen. Truly, we plan with the best of intentions but the fact of the matter is Allah knows what is best for His servants.

Afternote: Richard Marx, Bryan Adams are just among those evergreen musicians that I used to admire during my youth... he has a collection of beautiful songs with meaningful lyrics, some of which I can truly relate to :)

Exams

La Hawla Wa La Qu'waata Illa Billahil Azim (There is no power and strength except with Allah, The Grand, The Great)... AlhamdulilLahx3, I've managed to attain Statement of Achievement (SOA) for ACTA CU5 this week... I could have not done it without the magnificent grace of the Almighty SWT.

In retrospect, being an instructional designer is not enough... there is a need to be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the WSQ that we are submitting for approval. But I am not one who likes to specialise... I'd rather appreciate all genre (if I can call it that) of knowledge as it gives me a deeper appreciation of Allah's Wisdom, subhan Allah.... it does make one realise how insignificant  he/she is and keep the humility in check :)

Anyway, learnt alot especially in consultation with the assessor... she's got loads of experience. Next, time to celebrate before I hit the books again for another round of exam in early Sep. Wish me luck!

Redha

Bagaimanakan ku mula
Dan apakah kata-kata
Yang indah untuk diabadikan...
Tapi ku percaya
Semua telah tertulis
Dan niat suciku takkan disiakan...

Afternote: When I heard this melody, I paused to ponder the lyrics and realised that this talented artist has the gift of crafting poetic lyrics that could lead to different interpretations or meaning. Timeless.

Istiqomah

Have Faith. Keep the Hope. Continue to Strive. Maintain Patient Perseverance. 

Power of True Intent

Tears kept trickling down my cheeks as I watched this heart-rending movie, subhan Allah! Instinctively I'm reminded of mum, her unconditional love and relentless sacrifices. More importantly, her yearning to be a guest of Allah's most sacred house... It has been my greatest wish to bring her there and may Allah pave the way for us in the near future, insya Allah!

This movie also reminds us among other things, the power of a true intent, compassion, humanity, and that Allah's help can come from places we never thought of. So strive in the way of Allah and don't despair, as rightly pointed out in the testimony of those who watched the movie here.

Audacity of Hope

 

 Laskar Pelangi, a novel by Andrea Hirata, was based on the writer's own experiences. It is about an inspiring teacher and her 10 students in the poverty-stricken Kampung Gantong in Belitong. The poor condition of their school building does not dampen their high spirits and hopes for a better future. Brilliantly inspiring!

Sang Murabbi

Subhan Allah, this is a brilliant and inspirational movie reflecting the trials and tribulations of the late Ustadz Rahmat Abdullah. For those who are keen to start doing da'wah, you'll benefit from watching this movie. Truly, patience, sincerity, sacrifice in da'wah are for the sake of Allah SWT alone :)

Muslimah

[Source courtesy of Abidah el Khalieqy]

When I watch this movie, "Perempuan Berkalung Sorban" (Lady with a Turban), it struck me that truly our beloved Prophet SAW is the best exemplar for humankind with regards to how to engage and treat women.

Indeed, in Islam, women hold a privileged position if one truly makes references to the Quran and Hadith and contemplates on sirah (history) of RasululLah SAW and his family, particularly his wives and daughters.

Perhaps this movie is deem 'controversial' because of the half-truth depiction of life in a pesantren (traditional Islamic school)... one of my beloved uncle went to Pesantren and women there are not treated in such a manner; The film-maker has the amanah (responsibility) to convey the whole truth and nothing but the truth... as such 'Islamic' movie is seen by the world over. This is what we call Media Literacy :)

I end this post with the movie's trailer:

 

Afternote: I can't stress enough the importance of seeking knowledge then operationalise one's life accordingly, see Islam in its totality (syumul) and truth (haq) and not take bits and pieces out of convenience. May Allah Azza wa Jalla protects us from the hellfire, ameen ya Rabbal 'Alameen.

Think Positive

I was looking forward to get my PMI exam over and done with by May. Al-hamdulillah ala kulli hal (Praise is due to Allah in every circumstance, even the depressing ones). Due to an administrative glitch, I now have to prepare for it only in early September. Truly Allah Azza wa Jall is Oft-Knowing what is best for me.

Afternote: Mum, it'll be your birthday present... I'll promise to study and get through this with flying colours, insya Allah. La Hawla Wa La Qu'waata Illa Billahil Azim (There is no power and strength except with Allah, The Grand, The Great)... Btw, this doa is said to be a cure for various types of sadness so for those who are feeling a lil down, read various useful tips via  Don't Be Sad website.

Islamic Living

I actually read the book by Habiburrahman El Shirazy before watching this movie (have watched Part 2 as well, masya Allah... truly Allah SWT works in miraculous ways).

If only more of such Islamic movies were made, depicting the reality of the Ummah's life according to Sharia' law. Truly, the islamic paradigm is different from the western paradigm, subhan Allah.

Mum has become a fan of another author from Malaysia, Hasrizal Abdul Jamil and I know deep in her heart, she would have wished that he follows the footsteps of Habiburrahman El Shirazy and make movies too.

Afternote: I must admit, with humility and a tinge of embarassment, that I've not been keeping myself updated with Malay authors of today... but that does not mean that I've lost my Malay/Muslim identity :)

Glorious Books

[Source courtesy of NLB, Singapore]

WED

Let's commemorate World Environment Day on 5 June 2010 by starting to live a more eco-friendly life by easily 'green' your daily routine. Truly, men are vicegerent of this earth :)

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

Reading the book by John Perkins entitled "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", I'm perpetually feeling sick in my gut just visualising how the stories unfold in my mind's eye... subhan Allah. Corporatocracy... are we truly living in an era void of conscience and humanity? Truly, how long does one have in this world to be so preoccupied with it until one forgets the eternal life in hereafter? May Allah SWT bestow these people with hidayah, which their soul desperately need, whether they realise it or not, ameen. I'll end this post with a video by the author himself, sharing a piece of what he wrote in the book.

Humanity

I'm not a big movie fan but this movie, Pensil (Pencil), caught my eye and brought me to tears simply because I have a soft-spot for the discriminated.

Here's one man, who despite his lack of ability, strives to make a decent living for himself... what a true Muslim should do... ikhtiyar and not be quick to seek help from others... and yet there are heartless people who are quick to bring him down or discriminate him. May this movie create the awareness in us to love one another for the sake of Allah SWT and to defend those who are being discriminated, ameen. 

Afternote: I know that some critics may say "It is just a movie, not a reality" but what if it is real, would you sit by the side and be the audience or would you have the courage to do something about it... that is the question.

Book Exchange

[Source courtesy of NLB, Singapore]

Whew! Was on duty for half a day at the Book Exchange event at Victoria street. Approximately 73,000 books exchanged hands between 6,000 library patrons. To those who supported the event, thank you for your support, especially for dropping by NLB Academy's booth to say "Hi", catch up or subscribe to the promotion offered. :) 

Qaisarah Batrisyia

[Courtesy of cousin Wahyudi Othman]

AlhamdulilLah. On the morning of 10 April 2010, my cousin and his wife became proud parents of this adorable baby girl, Qaisarah Batrisyia. May she grow up to be the intelligent queen (as her name suggests) with a heart filled with wisdom, ameen.

Afterthought: With Faris and Qaisarah, the extended family continues to grow... awaiting the confirmation of another 'impending arrival' :)

Family First

AlhamdulilLah, alhamdulilLah, alhamdulilLah... A new-found friend's search to find his life companion  has finally ended. And it is true what the old and wise say - a man needs a woman by his side in order to find balance in his life, without one, he somehow feels 'incomplete'. What Ustaz Rahmat said in one of his previous lectures rings true, men and women are designed differently and placed in the scheme of things for a specific reason, subhan Allah.

Afternote: Noble is one who can love someone for the sake of Allah SWT alone. May his mum gain a companion to help her raise the kids to be good citizens of the world as one united family, ameen :)

090410

A quick shout out from us (including her brothers in the photo above) to my niece, Siti Maisarah... Happy birthday, may Allah SWT bless you with peace a bounty. Study smart and may you excel in your PSLE this year  *hugs*

GrandPa

Grandpa was constantly at the back of my mind simply because today is his special day. AlhamdulilLah, alhamdulilLah, alhamdulilLah... after going for regular therapy, he seems to have regained his health after a bout of lymphoma-pneumonia remission. May Allah SWT bless this great man and place him among the ihsanul kamil in jannatul firdaus, ameen ya Rabbal a'lamin.

Glad tidings

"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect." [Surat ar-Rum: 21]

As mum shares the good news about my younger brother getting engaged in June, we got to discussing what is Islam's views on dating? Not from the Western Worldview but from Islamic Worldview especially in the 21st century.

She said it boils down to one's intent, meaning you are not interested in testing the water, rather you have fixed your sight on a 'spouse material' and would like to engage him or her within the purview of the Syariah law in order to make an informed decision.

Hmm... perhaps this video could shed some light to what mum meant... In Islam, there is no such thing as love before marriage but it is preferable to look at the person you want to marry, interact and select accordingly, based on one's virtue, wealth, nobility and beauty, in this order of importance.

P/S: To my lil brother, marriage is a tremendous responsibility so prepare your mind for it. It is not just about love but mercy too. May Allah SWT bless you and lady D with a smooth path towards a blissful married life, Ameen.

Rottnest

Subhan Allah, this is a beautiful place. To a certain degree, I'm glad my pal is enjoying his work there at Rottnest and then back at Perth. On the other hand, the reason why mum discourages me to stay in Alanya for the long-term was because of such a surrounding. She constantly reminds me that life on earth is paradise only for the Jahiliah. May I not lose sight of the ultimate purpose of life on earth, insya Allah.

P/S: Let's all commemorate Earth Hour and switch off unwanted lights and start living green.

Divine Love

Our beloved Prophet SAW once said, "A companion whom you should stay close to is one whom when you look at him/her, you're reminded of Allah SWT, when you hear his/her words, your knowledge increases and when you observe his/her deeds, you're reminded of Hereafter."

Oh Allah, enable Your servant to see the truth, to love another whom loves You above all things such that it strengthens my love for You, Ameen.

P/S #1: Happy birthday to my lil Iqhwan. Had a blast over the weekend and thank you for paying your tired ol' aunt a visit, extending a brief but much needed respite from work work work *hugs*.

P/S #2: Thanks for the sound advice, Sis. You always have my welfare at heart :)

Appreciation

Hmm this is interesting. A long-distant friend who, out of the blue, shares music by Buckethead. On hindsight, yes, he knows that I used to be a fan of Pat Metheny during my youth... and that I have a 'thing' for talented guitarists.

Thank you, Muris, for sharing 3 files from Buckethead with me recently. I've post one of them here and here's the other one. Enjoy the great guitarwork by this mysterious talent :)

Afternote: Just realised after talking to Muris that 8 March 2010 was International Women's Day. Thanks for commemorating a day in a woman's life :)

True Love

"A child is a deposit in the hands of the parents. The child’s pure heart is like a precious gem. Like wax, a child can take any shape. When small, it has not taken any shape. It is like pure soil. You will reap what you sow in pure soil."

Following up from my earlier post and after a brief correspondence with my uncle, I'd like to say that if children are taught the tenets of Iman (belief), the Quran and the commandments of Allah SWT and accustomed to doing them, they will attain religious and worldly happiness. And their parents and teachers will share this happiness of theirs.

If they are not taught and trained, they will become unhappy. The sin of each evil they will commit will be given to their parents and teachers, too. Allahu ta’ala declares in the sixth ayat of Surah at-Tahrim, “Protect yourselves and those in your homes and under your command from the fire!”

It is more important for a father to protect his children against the fire of Hell than against worldly fire. And protecting them against the fire of Hell is to teach them Iman, the fard (commandment) and haram (prohibition) to accustom them to worshipping, and to protect them against irreligious and immoral friends. The source of all kinds of immoral deeds is an evil friend.

Our beloved Prophet SAW, by stating, “All children are born fit and suitable for Islam. Later, their parents make them Christians, Jews or irreligious”, indicates that both for the settlement and for the annihilation of Islam, the most important work on children can be done when they are still young.

Then, the first duty of each Muslim is to teach his children Islam and the Quran al-karim. The child is a great blessing. If the blessing is not appreciated, it will be lost. Therefore, pedagogy, i.e. the science of teaching children, is a very valuable science in the Islamic religion.

Afternote: My colleagues, soon-to-be-mums shared their concerns with me over lunch one day, whether they will be good mothers to their first born. I told them, trust in the God-given maternal instincts :)

Occupation 101

Part 1 outline the oppressions in Ireland, Algeria, America, South Africa, Holy Land, etc. The rest of the 11-part series for those who want to know the Truth.

Part 2 highlights the injustice faced by the oppressed homeless to push them to leave the country

Part 3 highlights about what truly happened chronologically in history (must see!)

Part 4 highlights how Palestinians became displaced to third-class citizens

Part 5 highlights virtually no power in the hands of the Palestinians (harrassment by Zionist)

Part 6 highlights Palestinians are oppressed due to US AIPAC, Fundamentalist Christians, American media

Part 7 highlights US aid for Zionist, at the expense of Palestine and US people (for control of oil?)

Part 8 highlights how Israel oppresses the Palestinians (held hostage in a gigantic prison)

Part 9 highlights Palestinians's fear living in Gaza (children have no will to live; became dehumanized)

Part 10 highlights the Internationl Solidarity Movement (human rights movement to fight Israel terrorism)

Part 11 highlights that Americans will never understand what is happening in Gaza (will they?)

Afternote: Please recite this doa for our Ummah in Palestine and include it in our daily prayer. May Allah SWT protects them from harm's way and may the oppression stops, Ameen.