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.