Update

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh 🙂

I think this blog deserves  short update.. and since I’m such a sloth, I’ll write in bullet points 🙂

• Al-Hamdulillah, finally a graduate! 🙂 My graduation will be on the 14th of Sept insha’Allah. After 3 years of slogging, it all comes down to a piece of paper!

• I’ve decided to not find a job for now since I’m applying to do Masters in Feb 2012 insha’Allah. If the application goes smoothly, then I’ll be moving to a whole different country next year 😉 Isn’t it exciting? 😛 Thinking of applying either Masters of Islamic Banking or Masters in teaching Eng as second language. The second option is slightly unorthodox I feel because most people I know rather teach in schools. I think I work best with adults plus, I get the opportunity to learn more about the different cultures and languages since I’m fascinated by them.

• Currently, I’m extending my visa to do volunteer work at a support center for Muslim women here.  In fact, I’ve already started working there and although I’ve been there for a short period of time, I feel like I’ve learnt a lot. The support center is mainly aimed at Muslim women who are in need of emotional and financial support. Volunteers get a lot of random tasks like helping a sister write a resume; some come in just to talk; or if they can’t find their way around the city. Apart from that as well, I get to work with so many beautiful (I don’t mean physically. and of course, not implying that they are ugly lol) sisters masha’Allah. They have such wonderful akhlaq! Have always wanted to be a part of such an organization al-Hamdulillah! 🙂

• I have a pet cat now! She actually belongs to someone else but that person decided to give her up so she had been hopping from one owner to another. The last was my brother and since he was going back for hols, I took her in. He’s back and I told him, the cat belongs to me now hehehe 🙂

• Going back a few days before Eid insha’Allah! After 4 years of being away from home, FINALLY I’ll be celebrating with them this year! I’m planning to surprise my mom and sis so only my dad and bro know I’ll be heading home. I have this mental image that I would ring the bell and my mom would open the door only to find me there! Or was thinking that I could sneak into the house and scream ‘Surprise!’ and give everyone a heart attack.. hahaha!

• Little Auntie asked if I’m getting engaged/married.. my answer is unfortunately no 😦 Help me find someone please lol? I remember the younger sisters at my hifdh class asking me the same thing then when I told them I was going to graduate. They bombarded me with all sort of questions, “So do you have anyone now sis?”, “Are you getting married soon?”, “How come you don’t have anyone?”. Haha so cute masha’Allah!

• I’ve packed some of my things and have brought them back home since I’m left with a couple of months before I leave for good. Can’t believe that time just flew past me! I came to Australia when I have not yet turn 18 and had been living independently since. I’m so used to doing everything on my own at my own time and pace; no need to ask for permission or inform anyone. Now that I’m returning home, not sure how I’ll adapt to this drastic change. Hmm..

That’s it for now.. I have so many topics that I really want to write about but haven’t had the time to do so. Insha’Allah! By the way, Ramadhan Mubarak to all of you!! 😀 Please use your time wisely by reciting Qur’an, listening to Islamic lectures, attending Islamic classes, read the tafseer.. and the list goes on! 🙂

Jumaah #18

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

If you find that reading historical events such as ‘The Crusades’ a snooze fest, then perhaps this documentary will aid in your understanding. It’s almost 3 hours long but at least with its reenactments of the event, it doesn’t feel like that much time have gone by. I’m still watching the initial phase of the Crusades on how it all began. This documentary is unbiased in its recount so I would recommend watching this.

But if you can find this audio cd at your Islamic Bookstore, then you should get it insha’Allah. I bought this recently 🙂

Jumuah #17

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

This is by far one of my favorite lectures by Bro Nouman Ali Khan. The story of Prophet Ibrahim Alayhi Salam is an inspiration to me and this is the reason I chose this kunyah ‘Umm Khaleel’ 🙂

p/s/ on a sidenote, I’m a graduate! Al-Hamdulillah! 😀

Assalam Alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh!

Pictures taken on Monday 🙂

Bro Boonaa

Sheikh Navaid Aziz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baba Ali

 

 

 

 

I bought Boonaa's cd 😀

“A refreshing look at the relationship of Muslims with themselves, their Lord, and the larger community. An approximately 3 hour performance which works to help foster and develop a better understanding of building strong Muslims, families, and a united Ummah”

The event was epic al-Hamdulillah.. surprisingly though, there were still available seats that night.  It was broken down to three parts – so Bro Boonaa started off with his poetry, followed by Sh. Navaid Aziz and then Baba Ali. All three of them are such amazing speakers masha’Allah! I bought Bro Boonaa’s cd although to be honest, I’ve never had the slightest interest in poetry. But somehow I am hooked to his!

One of the reminders which I feel is especially useful was from Sheikh Navaid Aziz. He said that whenever he is afflicted with trials, he would remind himself of his version Jannah. That might sound peculiar since Allah has already described Jannah in the Qur’an but according to him, when you are in Jannah, anything that is impossible in this Dunya will be feasible there. So he said, be creative when you think of Jannah. Spend some time imagining the things you like and wish you could do in this Dunya and then try to picture doing it in Jannah. His version was that of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and how it would be possible to go fishing in a chocolate river with chocolate fishes at the end of his bait, being able to swim in chocolate and eat them at the same time. Lol!

I went home that night and give some thought on the things I would like to do in Paradise. I remember there was a particular verse which made me smile whilst reading the Qur’an:

“Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, one of the ants said: “O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulaiman (Solomon) and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not.” So he [Sulaiman (Solomon)] smiled, amused at her speech and said: “My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.” [27:18-19]

You’d have figured out from both ayaah that I would love if I could understand the speech of animals like Prophet Sulaiman alayhi salam 🙂 (Love the dua as well subhan’Allah!). How amazing would it be to able to interact with animals?! 🙂 And just to add, the ocean really fascinates me but the thought of sharks biting my limbs off gave me second thoughts about diving. So in my wildest imagination, I would love to be able to dive freely without having to worry about predators or lack of oxygen. Haha 🙂

What would like to do in Jannah? What’s your version of it? Please share 🙂

 

 

Jumaah #16

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

10- year-old girl saves herself from rapist by reciting Al-Qur’an

JEDDAH: The latest victim of a serial rapist said reciting the Qur’an stopped her attacker from sexually assaulting her, Al-Madinah newspaper reported Monday.

The 10-year-old told the newspaper that she was able to protect herself against his evil deeds by reciting five chapters of the holy book that she had learned by heart.

“Every time he came closer to me, I started reciting Qur’an and he would withdraw,” she said.

The girl, identified by her initials M.M.S., said the rapist would ask her to stop reciting the Qur’an but when she refused to listen to him, he hit her hard on the face. “Because of my recitations, he was reluctant to touch me,” she said.

The girl was abducted from a wedding hall in the city. “The man knocked on the door of the wedding hall. As the doorwoman went inside to help serve dinner, I opened the door for him, believing that he was one of the guests.”

She said he asked her to go with him because he wanted to give a gift for the bride. She believed him when she saw a bag in his hand.

“When I came out, he came closer to me and took me by the hand. He told me that the remaining gifts were in the car. He asked me to go with him to his car near the entrance of the hall,” she said.

“I protested but he forced me to follow him and told me not to make any noise. I thought the drama would end then and there but he forced me into the back seat of the car and asked to lie down and hide my face.”

She said he warned her not to make any noise as he drove through roads unfamiliar to her.

“However, I was able to see some landmarks such as a billiard hall and another wedding hall. When we reached his home, he asked me to go up with him because he was keeping the gifts in his apartment,” she said.

“He told me that we would take the gifts and go back to the wedding hall. The moment I entered the apartment, he pushed me inside and locked the door. Until then, I had no idea what he was going to do to me.”

She said he started preparing his shisha and said he knew her father very well, adding that he would call him and tell him not to worry. He said he would take her back once the wedding was over.

“He made a call on his mobile and told me that he was talking to my father. I asked him to let me talk to him but he switched off the phone and hit me on my face, telling me to keep quiet,” she said. “He then tried to attack me but I started reciting the Qur’an. He then retreated. This continued until sunrise.”

She said after sunrise the man started to watch television until about 8 a.m. He then told her that he would take her to a house where she would find her relatives.

“I got into his car. He asked me to keep my head low but I was able to see some buildings including Al-Sudais and Rap pharmacies that were close to his house. We did not go far,” she said.

“He dropped me near Al-Nahda clinic in Al-Muntazahat district and asked me to go inside a building where I would find my relatives. I went inside the building but I did not find anyone. I came back but he was gone.”

The girl said she saw a man carrying some bags home. She stopped him and asked him to help her. He did not have a mobile phone with him but he stopped a taxi and used the driver’s mobile to contact the girl’s father.

“He told my father that I was with him and they agreed to meet at a certain place. He took me to meet my father, who started to cry when he saw me.”

A schoolteacher has been arrested in connection with the series of rapes which took place over a three-year period since 2008.

Source: Arab News

Quote

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

Not everyone who claims to have eemaan will get to taste the sweetness of faith. This is because having eemaan is not mere words that we articulate but it is through sincere deeds and actions.

 

The Strangers Tour 2011

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

=)))

Got my tickets today al-Hamdulillah! We’ve been talking about this event since months ago 🙂 I can’t understand why the brothers didn’t agree when we suggested this to them but the president for sisters’ committee said she’d get them to come whether the brothers like it or not lol. So here we go..  🙂

Da’wah

Assalam alaikoum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,

I haven’t been active online lately but khayr insha’Allah trying my best not to be a bummer

This video really touched me subhanAllah.. It started of with Bro Yusuf Estes explaining to the Christian brother about Islam which he eventually embraced and later a few sisters started to follow suit and said their shahadah too. Takbeer!!! Allahu Akbar! This video is worth every bit of your time insha’Allah!

Lately, sisters have been bringing non-Muslim ladies to Jumaah prayers as a way to gain some knowledge about Islam. Masha’Allah, one sister have even started learning how to pray even before she took the shahadah. The others asked many questions and wanted to learn more so another sister has taken some time to teach them about Islam. What I’m most surprised to learn is that these are all Phd students. One of the most common misconception is that women who embrace Islam are those who have little or no education. But subhan’Allah, what do these Islamophobes have to say about this! In fact, I personally know two revert sisters; one being a lawyer and the other is a doctor but, I’m sure there are many more revert sisters out there who are highly educated! Allahu Akbar! May Allah guide them to the Haqq!

Masha’Allah these sisters who have been giving da’wah to them are doing such a fantastic job! Every week I see new faces at Jumaah prayers. I feel embarrassed that I can’t even bring myself to discuss Islam with my non-Muslim friends whom I’m close to.  I was the da’wah officer but how much were my efforts to invite or at least teach others about Islam? There was one Christian friend who was obviously confused about Christianity, and at one point of time she kept questioning me about Islam because she was very drawn to the religion. She told me that she believed this is the truth but needed that ‘push’ to take that next step. I’ve always believed in being ‘soft’  when giving da’wah to people so I never pushed her further to question her beliefs because I was afraid it would push her away from Islam.. Now that she is back with our Christian friends, it’s going to be tough trying to engage her in such discussions because these bible-loving friends would have a stronger influence on her than I would.

Insha’Allah I would like to remind myself and all of you that our job as Muslims is simply to teach others about the Haqq but guidance is only in His hands. We can’t force a person to accept Islam if his heart is void of the truth.

“Whether We show you (O Muhammad SAW) part of what We have promised them or cause you to die, your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning.” [13:40]