.: 出入平安 :.

May there be peace.

Taking this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Lunar New Year. May you and your loved ones experience everlasting love, joy and happiness. While you are it, please remember those who are not as fortunate. Share the goodness, share the warmth. 

Wherever you go.

2.29pm, Malaysian Time

.: Path to Justice P2 :.

Tariq Ramadan.

Selected quotes that I had paraphrased from attending his talk:

1. Living your life with principles means living for God.
2. We are critical of others but how is the quality of our life? Do we live by our principles? Do we struggle?
3. An evil word is like a tree with bad roots. What are the roots? Our heart. The roots are invisible but the roots show the strength of the tree. It is quality and stability.
4. If your roots are strong, and your mind is clear, you will not be bothered by others because you are strong within. Otherwise you become an object of perception, and you strive to please others, follow them and inclined to be weak.
5. Be serious in educating our hearts. Construct yourself with spiritual preparation to counter the threats to come.
6. Isolate yourself not from the people but isolate yourself from the lack of principles of the people. Isolation from the world is isolation from illusions.
7. Quality is missing. There are means for you to become better. Find it. Reconcile yourself with the mending of your life. This is it. Begin with yourself. Change your life. Be committed.
8. They know Islam is a good religion. But where are the great Muslims? What do you do to be a dignified person?
9. There are rules we must abide and respect.
10. If you watch the telly and become more stupid, you have been colonised. Read, read, and read. Be careful with the internet. Being stupid is your choice. Read and respond. Add knowledge to knowledge.
11. Many of us repeat without understanding. Love is not about taking everything. Love in Islam is critical love. I love you but I have a question.
12. Regarding the Dalai Lama. Anyone disciplined has something to teach you. You may not believe his beliefs, but he is a dignified individual and deserves our respect.
13. You have to be serious with your interactions with the people. It strengthens your principles.
14. Liberate Islam from the cultural dress. There are cultures that are biased towards women. That is wrong. There are cultures that champion another race. That is wrong.
15. We are a nation of clarity, not a confused lot.
16. Challenge our culture. Many are Muslims by culture, we should be Muslims by principles.
17. We are self-colonised by corruption. Stop blaming the west for colonisation. Stop complaining.
18. As a community, stop being defensive and apologetic. Be assertive, confident and have trust.
19. Stop having a distorted mindset. No generalisation. Challenge the reality. Be critical. Because we want to be aware. It is essential.
20. You may be Muslims but you must always be on the side of the oppressed. Have courage, not the lack of it.
21. Take care of myself, isolate to have time for myself and to look at the fine details in my life.
22. Are you an added presence or value in your neighbourhood? Start now.

May it benefit others, ameen.

2.12pm, Malaysian Time

.: Fallen angels :.

Making a living. 

Both girls smiled shyly at me. One, was carrying a basket full of packets of tissue papers. The other, held firmly to the hem of her dress.

I called them to come nearer. 

Girl 1: Buy tissue? 

Me: Sure. Is she your little sister? 

Girl 1: Yes. 

The girls were barely 9. Yet there they were on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, selling packets of tissue papers. For a moment, I wondered why were they not in school, where were their parents, where do they live. However, due to language limitations, they were not able to divulge much details. The hardship that they face each day seemed to fade away when we shared a few moments together. 

The memories I have of my childhood were mostly filled with playtime, reading and watching cartoons. Thus I often find it difficult to understand how children in some parts of the world can be subjected to child labour. At such a young age, these children have to grow beyond their years and take on the responsibility of contributing towards the livelihood of the family.

As much as I want to believe that the girls, like other child labourers, do not have a choice in this matter, and that they have been driven to be in the trade due to circumstances, their sheer innocence, oblivious to the potential danger that may fall upon them, stifled me.  

The last few minutes of our encounter were spent on a couple of photography sessions. The girls loved seeing their faces on the camera, and they giggled at their own pictures. After having their fill of laughs, they both said their thanks and goodbyes. 

And with a heavy heart, I let them walk away. 

11.08am, Malaysian Time

.: Marriage Conference P1 :.

‘Tis the season to get married. 

In Facebook, I clicked on the “Join” button to indicate that I will be attending the Marriage Conference. 

I don’t have a particular reason for attending. I just thought it would be fun to see how things will turn out. Besides, quite a number of my friends will be there as well so I figured I could use the time to catch-up with them. Making the decision to attend, in my humble opinion, was like to kill several birds with one stone. 

My good friend upon seeing the Facebook update responded by saying, 

 “Congratulations Hajar!” 

Makes me feel as though going to the Marriage Conference is akin to a huge leap for mankind. 

On another note, a good friend of mine is getting married! Barakallahu lakuma, wa baraka 'alaikuma, wa jama'a bainakuma fi khair! May Allah swt bless them with much love and happiness all the way to jannah, Allahumma ameen. 

1001.

9.17am, Malaysian Time