Revive the Ummah and Do Small Things in Great Way

Notes from talk by Dr Halima Boukerroucha during Observation of Heart seminar.

Solat and other ibadah is not our main role in this world. They strengthen us and perfects us for our main role as khalifah i.e. to revive the ummah and give birth to the ummah.

Mother of Musa a.s., the wife of Firaun (Asiah) and the sister of Musa a.s. starts the revival of Israel ummah from the slavery of Firaun.

- Musa's mother trust Allah to release him in the Nile river.
- Asiah tries to break the rule of Firaun by asking him to keep and raise Musa a.s.
- Asiah later declares her belief in Allah, proving Firaun is not god to their people. She can keep quiet about her belief but she chose the best choice for ummah
- Hajar gives contribution to Muslim ummah way beyond her generation by putting her full trust in Allah, being patient and do her best when she's left alone with her son in the desert.

Challenges that prevents us from doing our role as Khalifah is the wrong concept that we carry of ourselves.

1) Do not wait till we are in a certain position (CEO of big organization or minister) to do good things. START whenever you are to make a difference.

Asiah, the wife of Firaun can choose to embrace Islam quietly and nothing will happen to her. But she chose to declare her religion for the people to see that as a wife to Firaun who declares himself as god, she declares her belief in Allah and prove that her husband is a mere mortal.

2) Free self from slavery of desires

Oh there's a lot... of worldly desires.

3) Do not link success to popularity

Likes in FB, number of friends, etc. Success in the eyes of Allah may not be seen as success in the eyes of people. We do not know what happen to mother of Musa when Musa a.s. succeed against Firaun. She's not as famous as mother of Isa a.s. Maryam. But she planted the seed of success for the religion.

4) Do not wait for things to get better until we do our best or for a man to motivate us. The father of Prophet Musa a.s. was never mentioned in the Quran. Asiah's husband Firaun is THE disaster and the husband of Hajar, even though a prophet but can't be there beside her. He can only come visit her and his son once a year.

5) We can't discover our ability and skills without vision and mission.

Sister of Musa a.s. has a vision and mission when entrusted by her mother to follow Musa a.s. in Nile river, one of the biggest river in the world. Logically their house can't possibly be near to the palace so she must have followed him for quite a distance and must navigate rocks and bushes till she saw him float into the palace. She's a fine intelligence officer for finding a way to get into the palace, finds out her brother refuses to breastfeed from other woman and then convinces the people in the palace that she knows someone who can breastfeed him, all without betraying her emotion that she's the baby's sister.

If we can't do big things, do small things in a great way.

During the 1960 revolution with the French in Algeria, hundreds of civilian massacred at night from the French army but the Alegrians can't retaliate or they will be seen as rebel. To prevent more attacks men stay guard on rooftop at night and inform the women the do "zaharid" to inform the neighbours when they saw armed men in their area. "Zaharid" is not an important skill that you can put in the resume but it managed to protect people's lives.

Tahniah Allah Beri Kesusahan

Congratulations on your hardship! We never hear people congratulating others when they are faced with difficulties. Sometimes people even wonder why bad things happen to good people. But in the Quran says "glad tidings to those who are patient when faced with difficulties". That is like congratulating someone who is facing hardship. Anything that takes you closer to Jannah is success regardless of pain or gain of this world (dunya). -from Yasmin Mogahed in Observation of Heart seminar-

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 155:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient,

Demi sesungguhnya! Kami akan menguji kamu dengan sedikit perasaan takut (kepada musuh) dan (dengan merasai) kelaparan, dan (dengan berlakunya) kekurangan dari harta benda dan jiwa serta hasil tanaman. Dan berilah khabar gembira kepada orang-orang yang sabar:

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 156:
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return.

(Iaitu) orang-orang yang apabila mereka ditimpa oleh sesuatu kesusahan, mereka berkata: "Sesungguhnya kami adalah kepunyaan Allah dan kepada Allah jualah kami kembali."

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 157:
أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.

Mereka itu ialah orang-orang yang dilimpahi dengan berbagai-bagai kebaikan dari Tuhan mereka serta rahmatNya; dan mereka itulah orang-orang yang dapat petunjuk hidayahNya.

Jalan Cerita

Selalu baca blog2 yang di follow through gReader dekat phone. Since Google disable Google Reader, ada step yang digunakan untuk import all the feeds to gReader. But with the new phone,  dah tak ingat dah step2 nya. Kena start from scratch build all the link. Ada blog yang boleh Google jer based on names. Ada yang dah berzaman tak di update. Ada yang dah letak password, for invited reader only. Since I'm only a silent reader, tiada lah invitation to join.
Most from zaman2 meriah berblog dulu and I love their writing. Tapi, tak per lah. Buat apa beria2 nak tau sangat cerita orang kan. Kalau ada cerita2 santai, OK kita baca untuk rest kan kepala sebab biasanya cerita2 ringan... interesting food, interesting places, funny stories. Reflecting on my blog yang dah bertahun2 wujud ni. Jalan cerita dulu tak sama dengan jalan cerita sekarang.

Jalan cerita sekarang banyak lebih berat dari cerita dulu. It's not necessarily a bad thing kerana dugaan hidup mematangkan kita, buat kita kenal diri sendiri and most importantly kenal Allah. Tiada apa yang lebih penting dalam hidup dari memikirkan kematian dan hari akhirat. Bukan bermaksud lupakan dunia. Allah suruh cari kedua2nya kan.

Esok genap 3 bulan Adly menunggu ummi di sisi yang Esa. Esok juga langkah pertama aktif mencari rezeki semula. Semoga diberi kekuatan dan semangat. Salam sayang buat anakanda.

Have to Heal

Yesterday I visited a friend who has delivered her baby about a month ago. My first close contact with baby after mine passed away. 8th April is 3rd month after delivery for me. I have to heal. There's no two way for it. I was fine. We talked about my darling baby too. I have to hold myself in check once. But I was fine.

Talking about baby reminds me about him in loving way. Reliving every precious moments with a smile in my heart. I may cry though but I'm fine. I love thinking about him. He's waiting for us ayah and ummi, and may we put in extra effort to better our ibadah so we can meet him in jannah. Dear Allah, please convey my loving salam to my darling baby.

Kisah Beli Barang

Kisah 1: Beli Langsir

Penjual Bangla: Ambik lah kakak. Ini design banyak exclusive. Kalau kakak beli, rumah kakak saja pakai ini langsir. Jiran2 semua takder.
(saper yang pernah deal dengan diorang ni jual karpet ker, perabot ker, kain ker, sure tau gaya cakap diorang ni hehehe... jadi silalah gaya kan dengan betul supaya drama ini menjadi lebih real!)
Me: Eh I peduli apa jiran I pakai langsir apa!
(feeling amused... dia ingat ni style orang kampung dulu2 ker main banding2 barang rumah.)
Me: Berapa semeter ni?
Penjual Bangla: Harga special lah saya bagi kakak. Tinggal 6 meter jer lagi.
Hubby: Eh dah tak exclusive lah kalau macam tu. Ramai dah beli. Tinggal last jer nih.
Me: Hahahaha...

Later, laughing about it in the car. Talk to hubby... agaknya kat kampung dia pun ada orang duk banding2 barang dalam rumah. Hubby said, fenomena global ler agaknya. Tapi pandai ler diorang ni jual gunakan feeling, cari apa point yang boleh menyentuh emosi. Bukan sebab harga sangat.

Kisah 2: Beli Tudung

Me: Tengok2 tudung to match with my newly bought kain.
Penjual Bangla: Kakak duduk mana?
Me: Duduk area sini juga lah. SK.
(Tapi bangla ni macam baru sampai agaknya, tak berapa fasih and tak berapa dapat tangkap jawapan kita.)
Me: Sini lah KL.
(dalam hati... dia ingat kita ni datang dari ceruk mana agaknya jakun tengok tudung banyak2 ni. Ada gak lah sedikit jakun sebab murah2 and cantik2 kalau boleh nak borong semua hehehe...)
Then...
Penjual Bangla: Kakak ada berapa orang anak?
Me: You tak payah interview I. I nak beli tudung jer.
(dalam hati... eh apahal ler bangla ni. jual jer lah tudung tu.)
Then... soalan yang sama and jawapan yang sama jugak. 2x.
(eh tak faham2 ker Bangla nih)
Then...
Penjual Bangla: Abang takder ker kakak?
Me: Abang tengah tunggu orang jahit langsir lah.
(dalam hati... lerrr... dia ni nak ngorat ker?)

Bila sampai semula kat hubby and told him the story...

Hubby: Kurang ajar punya Bangla.
Me: Hehehe... tu ler tadi abang tak nak ikut tengok tudung.

Masa balik tak lalu sampai kedai dia. Kalau lalu boleh tunjuk dia kat hubby :p

On another note: Respect jer kat Bangla2 nih (yang tak sibuk mengorat ler). Merata2 negara diorang ada. Tinggalkan tanah air and keluarga untuk cari rezeki. Pandai pulak berniaga. Haaaa... cukuplah tu. Kang puji lelebih hubby jeles lak :D

The Memorable Tioman Trip

The End of My Swimsuit

The ferry trip this time was very fast. We boarded the ferry around 5.45 am and reached Salang by 7.30 am. We had breakfast and then managed to get our room early. This time 2 SILs and family joined the trip. 15 of us altogether. 1 SIL borrowed my swimsuit when I was at the hospital. She complained that it was quite big she had to stitch the legs. I just thought I was bigger than her. When she returned the swimsuit, I didn't check assuming everything was OK. Only when I wanted to wear it I noticed what she meant. The black pieces has become so loose that it would be impossible to swim in it. Even walking around was not comfortable at all. She let me borrow her long swimming trunk that I wore on top of the swimsuit pants to hold the inner black pants in place. Thank God for that as I didn't bring any backup of suitable clothing for swimming.

Time for a new swimsuit. If I'm not mistaken I bought the swimsuit in 2009. Dah puas berjasa.

Pic of swimsuit from 2009 Langkawi trip 

The Demise of My Note 2

It was a beautiful day. Everything seems perfect and my Note 2 in it's waterproof case took lots of photo during our round the island trip. We've been to Tioman several times, island hopping, snorkelling and diving but never round the island. That day we braved choppy water from Salang to Juara and Asahan waterfall. Afterwards, back to the West side of the island. Stop for lunch, and several stop for snorkelling. Renggis water, despite a bit of current, not as bad as the time I drifted away during our previous visit. As I was snapping pictures while in the water, I noticed half of the underwater casing filled with water :( Quickly get it out from the water and pour plain water on it. Dry it with towel and tissue and hope for the best.

Three days without phone as I was on the road. Then put the phone in rice container overnight once I reached home. Nothing when I tried switching it on the next day. So send it for repair and the 3rd day the technician said no hope. Sigh! I already bought Note 3 for replacement. If my Note 2 survive, I'd give it to hubby. Many photos were not backed up. Luckily I've backup baby's pic and videos in Dropbox.

I never plan for a new phone. So I wasn't as excited with the features and specs. I just wanted another Note and it didn't make sense if I bought another Note 2 when Note 3 is in the market.

The supposedly waterproof case

The Hole in The Dry Bag

1st the swimsuit breakdown. Then the phone. And lastly and luckily I noticed a hole in our dry bag, at the bottom part where the bottom was sealed to meet the side part. So I carefully stored the dry bag in the boat. No harm and damaged to wallets and phones.

Anything else wants to breakdown? I was holding myself in check so I won't breakdown.

I love the amazing stars at night. I didn't let the phone incident spoil the holiday. It wasn't a perfect holiday but it was fine considering all the breakdown I was facing.

27-29 March... phone demise on 28th. New phone bought on 1st April.

Antara Lena dan Jaga

Kalau kita sakit terkena buatan orang, adakah sepenuh kesalahan diletak pada pembuat sihir? Ingatlah Allah yang mengizinkan sebagai ujian pada kita dan juga yang membuat sihir tersebut.

Kalau sakit kita semakin parah kerana silap doktor atau kakitangan perubatan, adakah sepenuh kesalahan pada mereka? Ingatlah Allah yang mengizinkan sebagai ujian pada kita dan juga pada mereka.

Tapi kalau mati dibunuh, hukum hududnya ialah mati juga pada si pembunuh kecuali waris yang hidup sedia terima ganti rugi. Walaupun mati itu takdir ketentuan Allah tapi dalam hal ni, terang2 dah dinyatakan hukuman atas dunia yang disebut dalam Al-Quran. Berbeza dengan 2 kes yang mula2 disebutkan tadi. Sama ada hukuman dunia atau akhirat, Allah yang Maha Mengetahui.

When you're in pain, remember this: that He knows what He's doing with you. -Yasmin Mogahed-

Kalau mata tak dapat lelap sedangkan badan dan minda teramat letih, adakah salah orang sebelah yang nyenyak dibuai mimpi? Ingatlah Allah jua yang mengizinkan lena dan jaga. Apa hikmahnya kenalah dicari jawapannya dari yang Maha Berkuasa. Bukan disalah pada sesiapa yang tidak sedikit pun dapat mengawal ketentuan fisiologi dan biologi diri sendiri, apa tah lagi orang lain. Itu lah faktanya.

Kalau hati tak dapat tenang, itulah tanda Allah mahu kita bertambah rapat dan dekat denganNya. Dia lah yang menjadikan hati dan dialah yang memberi ketenangan, kegembiraan, kesedihan dan segala perasaan sebagai ujian.

Orang rasional juga perlu emosi. Orang emosi juga perlu rasional.

Hati Yang Kecil

Bila hati yang kecil ini berkecil hati...

Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan... Sikap pentingkan diri sendiri yg memualkan...

Yasmin Mogahed

Kecil Hati

Bila hati yang kecil ini berkecil hati...

Semoga Allah menjauhkan diri dari bisikan2 syaitan, memberikan ketenangan dan kekuatan.

Hati yang penuh kekurangan dengan perasaan2 yang sedia wujud sebagai manusia, sebagai wanita, sebagai isteri, sebagai ibu, sebagai anak... mengharapkan empathy dari hati yang penuh kekurangan dengan perasaan2 yang sedia wujud sebagai manusia juga.