. : Eid Adha 2020 :.

Hold Tightly to His rope. 

As'salaamualaikum. Has been a while since I last updated this blog. So much have happened for the past few months, yet the heart is thankful for the countless blessings that came with it. 

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah. All praises to Allah SWT for everything. 

Having said that, I'd like to take this opportunity to say Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum and a happy Eid to everyone who reads this blog. 

May Allah SWT bless you with everything that is good in this life and the hereafter, ameen!

Remembering Hajj. 

9.55am, Malaysia Time

.: 新年到，新年好 :.

New stage in life.

Wishing all of you a Happy Chinese New Year! 

May it be a year of prosperity, good health and lots of happiness. 

祝你们新年快乐，万事如意，身体健康，天天快乐！

Before anybody starts asking me for red packets, I have to point out that K, despite being a Chinese from China, does not celebrate Chinese New Year. In fact, his family never celebrates it. Chinese New Year to them is just like any other day. Then again, they do not really celebrate any festivity, so this did not come as a surprise for me. Did that just blow your mind? 

So what did we do on Chinese New Year? We went out, met some friends, had a nice dinner with K's niece, and we slept. Even the firecrackers and fireworks failed to kick the sanity out of us. We heard the sounds, we disregarded it, and we went back to bed. Best sleep ever!

But we did host some friends the day before. We had hotpot. For a brief moment, it did feel like we were having our reunion dinner, except it was not dinner. What we had was a late lunch. 

The new stage in life? We are expecting something huge to kickoff this year, insha'Allah. Something that we have been praying for. Something that we have been yearning for. Something that would insha'Allah bring significant changes to our lives. 

No. It is not a baby. 

Or maybe it is. Figuratively.

Excited, yet nervous. 

Off to hunt for a mandarin orange.

9.37am, Malaysia Time

.: New Malaysia :.

New hope.

And today, he became the Prime Minister again. 

Welcome back. 😊

11.01am, Malaysian Time

.: Hello 2018 :.

Tick tock.

Just a few more hours to go before we enter the new year. In retrospect, loads of stuff happened throughout 2017. Started a new business, clinched a couple of long-term freelancing writing jobs, and secured a scholarship, Alhamdulillah.

The year also came with its fair share of unfavorable news, with my brother's death being the hardest. Until now, there are times when I still find it unreal. If you are reading this, please send a silent prayer for my brother, in hope that Allah places him in a better place and elevates his status as a better Muslim, ameen. 

What do I have in mind for 2018?

At this age, I hardly come up with new year resolutions. Suffice for me to say, let's strive to love a little more, care a little more, and be kind to one another. Above all, retain from bringing harm towards others. 

May 2018 be a blessed year for all.

5.51pm, Malaysian Time

.: The Cookie Jar :.

And more!

My big sis will insha'Allah take part in a charity sale to be held at Menara Great Eastern, Jalan Ampang on Wednesday, 14 June 2017.

If you're around the area, please drop by and render your support to her and other vendors. 20% of the proceeds will go to Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Perlindungan Nur Qaseh Malaysia.

Spread the word around and many thanks in advance!

PS: Click on the images to enlarge it.

12.38pm, Malaysian Time

.: 斋月吉庆 :.

Ramadan Mubarak!

As we enter the second day of Ramadan, I start to think, are we truly aware of our intentions and goals? 

Particularly for those who happen to do business during this time. The ones who happen to only do business during this time. 

May Allah SWT protect us from taking advantage of Ramadan to feed our own selfish desires, ameen.

Treading on thin lines. 

3.53pm, Malaysian Time

.: Cup of chai :.

Hits the spot.

Happy Deepavali to those who are celebrating it and happy holidays to everyone else! 

Hope all of you will have a wonderful time!

Gosh, I miss eating all the Indian muruku and sweets.

Off to pack her bags.

11.09am, Malaysian Time

.: Night of Power :.

From Deeds in 60 Seconds.

Just a few more days and we shall soon enter the last 10 nights of Ramadhan. In seeking the blessed night of Laylatul Qadr, a night better than a thousand nights, hopefully we can include some of these duas in our daily worship even after Ramadhan has ended. 

1. Ya Allah grant me Ultimate Success - safety from the Fire and entry into Jannatul Firdous 

2. Ya Allah make me and my family of those companions of the Right. Who receive the book of deeds in our right hands. 

3. Ya Allah, Grant me a blessed death. Let me utter the shahada before I die. Grant me the intercession of Prophet Mohammed ﷺ 

4. Ya Allah grant me the companionship of Prophet Mohammed ﷺ his family and the Sahaba's in Jannatul Firdous. 

5. Ya Allah save my non-Muslim friends from the Fire. Guide them to Islam. 

6. Ya Allah, reunite me in Jannathul Firdous with those whom I love for Your sake alone. 

7. Ya Rabb, perfect my Deen and my Worship.  

8. Ya Allah accept my good deeds and increase me in reward and Your Mercy. Wipe away my sins and pardon me completely. Shower your Mercy upon me and save me from disgrace on the Day of Reckoning.  

9. Ya Allah, when I die, let my soul and my record of Deeds be with the Illiyeen.  

10. Ya Allah grant me, my parents, family and children guidance, steadfastness and increased Imaan.  

11. Ya Allah, make me of the few You love, You Pardon and You shade on a Day when there is no shade but from Your Majestic Arsh (Throne).  

12. Oh my Lord, increase me in Yakeen and Tawakkul in you. Let there be no doubt in my belief in Your Oneness, Your Majesty and Power. 

13. Ya Allah increase me in my love for You and Your Prophet Mohammed ﷺ 

14. Ya Allah forgive me and increase me in Your Blessings and Provisions.  

15. Ya Allah lead me to more opportunities to do good and seeking Your Pleasure.  

16. Ya Rabb, Purify my intentions for Your Sake alone and let me not show off or take false pride. Save me from arrogance, pride, showing off and reminding of favors.  

17. Oh my Creator and Sustainer, do not leave me alone. Bless me with a righteous spouse and children who will be the coolness of my eyes.  

18. Oh my Lord, make me of those who are patient and obedient to You and my parents.  

19. Save me from the Fitnah of Dajjal.  

20. Save me from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Hell Fire.  

21. Ya Allah, increase me in Sadakatul Jariya work.  

22. Ya Allah, bless me with good health, so I can make sajdah with ease till my dying day.  

23. Ya Allah, protect me and the Muslim Ummah against wicked oppressors. Save us from Fitnah and give us ease in our times of trial.  

24. My Lord, bless me with the best in this world, the best in the Hereafter and save me from the fire. I am indeed in need of the good You have in store for me.  

25. Ya Allah increase me in gratitude towards You alone.  

26. Oh my Rabb, save me from hypocrisy.  

27. Ya Allah, let me and my spouse be among the pilgrims to perform Hajj in 2016.  

28. Ya Allah protect me against Evil Jinns and Spirits. Safeguard me from their evil incitements and plots.  

29. Ya Allah forgive and have Mercy upon my parents, as they looked after me when I was young.  

30. Ya Allah, I pray and beg of you for the guidance of the Muslim Youth and Ummah. Save us all from Kufr, Despair, Misdeeds and Shirk. 

31. Ya Allah grant me the strength to battle laziness and sleep, so I may wake up for ‪#‎Tahajjud‬ and ‪#‎Fajr‬ everyday. 

Ameen ya Rabb.

6.05am, Malaysian Time

.: Ramadhan bits :.

Halfway through.

Keep others in mind.

11.57am, Malaysian Time

.: 莱麦丹月P4 :.

Share the khayr.

Alhamdulillah, I am thankful that the designs for the simple guide to Ramadhan in Mandarin Chinese reading materials can be completed ahead of time. There are 3 designs to choose from and you may print the reading materials as a booklet, leaflet or poster. 

A few things I would like to highlight: I do not copyright the materials and you are not required to credit me. Also, please take note that the guide should not be used for commercial purposes. All I ask is for you to share it out and if possible, kindly make dua for all of those who were involved in this project. I thank you in advance on behalf of the team. Only Allah can reward you for your goodness and I pray may He bless you abundantly, ameen.

Guidelines on how to save the image(s):

1. Kindly click on the image.
2. You will be directed to another page. 
3. Right click on the image and choose option "save as". 
4. You may then save the image to your hard drive and circulate it among your network via printing it, emailing it, posting it on your website or preferred social media platforms. 
5. If you prefer the .pdf version, kindly email me at hajar.alwi@gmail.com and insha'Allah I will send it to you.

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Feedbacks, suggestions and constructive criticisms are most welcome. Insha'Allah the guide will be improved from time to time. 

Friday baraqah.

12.44noon, Malaysian Time

.: 莱麦丹月P3 :.

充满希望和收获的莱麦丹月

Chinese Muslim calligraphy in the Sinic (Chinese) Arabic script by Haji Yousaf Chen Jinhui

伊斯兰的斋戒并非是一种单纯的节食行为、更不是傍晚开斋时的大吃大喝或是一项娱乐活动，也不是把钱过多地花费在装饰家里的房间，购买衣服和点心上。 当然，烟花也绝对和斋月没有任何关系。

斋月不能被穆斯林当成懈怠工作的借口。相反，穆斯林应当在斋月中更加努力地完善自我。要知道，斋月给穆斯林提供了一个自我提升的机会，所以穆斯林应当充分利用这个机会改掉陋习，培养良好的习惯。在斋月中，穆斯林可以重建与真主的关系，并希望藉此成为一个更好的人，一个可以有助于我们的世界变得更加和平，安宁的人。

伴随着开斋节的到来，斋月也将接近尾声。在开斋节这一天，穆斯林赞颂真主，聚众礼拜，寻求真主的原谅。家人们将在这一吉庆的日子团聚在一起分享真主的恩典......此外，还有家庭迎宾会期待您的光临！

莱麦丹月P1: 又是一年的斋月！
莱麦丹月P2：莱麦丹月之中无尽的恩典

结束了！

10.19am, Malaysian Time

.: 莱麦丹月P2 :.

莱麦丹月之中无尽的恩典

Chinese Muslim calligraphy in the Sinic (Chinese) Arabic script by Imam Haji Abdul Hakim @ Liu Jing Yi 

世界各地的穆斯林都切盼着斋月的来临。他们不觉得斋月是一种负担。相反，对穆斯林来说斋月却是一个令人欣喜的月份。这个月里充满了真主的恩典，仁慈以及饶恕。在斋月中，真主将对穆斯林的善行赐予更多的回赐。因此，在斋月中穆斯林会尽力多行善事。在斋月的晚间，人们会聚集到清真寺一起做礼拜。在整个月份当中，他们大量施舍财物，并且为贫穷者提供食品和衣物。

莱麦丹月是《古兰经》降示时的月份。在公元610年莱麦丹月，真主降示古兰予穆圣。《古兰经》是真主（给这个世界的）最后启示。它教导世人真理，引导人们在正确的道路上以获得今世与后世真正的成功。在斋月中， 穆斯林们多多诵念古兰经，以便更加接近真主，很多穆斯林至少通读完一遍《古兰经》。一些《古兰经》集体诵读活动，通常会在家庭，办公室，学校，以及清真寺中举办。

莱麦丹月P1: 又是一年的斋月！

未完待续。

1.22pm, Malaysian Time

.: 莱麦丹月P1 :.

又是一年的斋月！

Chinese Muslim calligraphy in the Sinic (Chinese) Arabic script by Haji Noor Deen Mi

斋月是伊斯兰教历的第九个月份。穆斯林们从黎明斋戒到日落，不吃，不喝，远离房事。

斋戒是来自于真主的命令。真主以此教导我们穆斯林保持纯洁，忍耐，自律，以及时时刻刻记念真主。斋戒可以增强我们的意志力，而我们的生活也会因之而充满信念、善行和安宁。

穆斯林以先知穆罕穆德（愿主福安之）的方式封斋。在黎明之前，他们吃少量的食物，并举意为真主封斋。他们在听到昏礼（日落时的礼拜）的宣礼时开斋，以枣子和水开斋为佳。

穆斯林们视斋戒为全身心的修行。身体所有的部分都在自制着，以避免做无意义的事务或错误的行为。因此，在斋月当中，穆斯林们不在背后谈论别人，不与人争论；他们非礼勿听，非礼勿视,非礼勿动，非礼勿行。

未完待续。

11.55am, Malaysian Time

.: 斋月 :.

分享真主的恩典

With the coming of Ramadhan, a few friends have come together to create a simple guide to Ramadhan in Mandarin Chinese with some basic information about the blessed month because sometimes, people want to understand why Muslims can get so hyped about the month of Ramadhan. Logically speaking, why would masses of people develop the adrenaline rush for a whole month of fasting? Hopefully, the guide would be able to shed some light. 

The main purpose of doing it in Mandarin Chinese is purely to reach out to this particular segment as I often get queried by my Chinese friends, who at times despite some being English literate, still prefer to digest certain information in their own native language. I suppose that speaks for most of us. 

In the next few days, insha'Allah I will share extracts of the guide on this blog. The actual leaflet will be shared as a concluding post and can be downloaded under "The Extras" section. Do feel free to download or share the khayr with others. Also, kindly inform me if there are discrepancies in the information shared in the leaflet. 

First post coming up soon, insha'Allah. 

Jazakumu'Allahu khairan.

9.29am, Malaysian Time

.: 团圆饭聚会 :.

Reunion gathering.

Annually, the Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) will organise their reunion gathering in conjunction with Chinese New Year. As much as I want to be there, to catch-up with old friends and probably get to know some fresh faces, I have to give this a miss due to other commitments.  

For those who may be interested to partake in this festive gathering, particularly if you are keen on fostering greater relationships between Muslims and Not-Yet-Muslim Chinese brothers and sisters, you are invited to register at: 

admin@askislam.my OR 03 4144 3315 

The gathering is jointly organised on 31 January 2016 from 11am until 2pm by Mohd Chan restaurant, Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) and He-Ping Chinese Muslim Society at: 

Mohd Chan restaurant (Taman Melawati branch) 

60, Jalan Negara, Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur

Seats are limited. 

11.49am, Malaysian Time

.: Ramadhan 1436 :.

Far too soon. 

تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّ وَ مِنْكُمْ تَقَبَّلْ يَا كَرِيْمُ

Down to the last few hours of Ramadhan. I pray may Allah SWT accept the good that we and our loved ones have done throughout this lifetime and may He forgive all the sins that we and our loved ones have committed throughout this lifetime. 

May Allah SWT also bless us with the opportunity to experience Ramadhan once more and may He keep us and our loved ones consistent in the deen. Allahumma ameen, thumma ameen. 

Have a wonderful and blessed Eid!

1.52am, Malaysian Time

.: Eeman charge :.

Ramadhan 2015.

A year had passed since the last Ramadhan, yet it felt as though time just went by. A reminder that the time lost, can never be regained. 

Let's take this opportunity to value the time we have left and those we hold dearly. Find it in our hearts to give and forgive, purely, sincerely, with no strings attached, and I hope and pray that your loved ones and many others will reciprocate with overflowing love, kindness and compassion. 

May Allah SWT permit us to fully utilise this blessed time to make significant and positive changes in our daily lives, spiritually and emotionally, for as long as we are on this dunya, and may this effort of ours lead to us committing ourselves to do even more meaningful things and having better relationships, ameen.

6 months.

10.51am, Malaysian Time

.: Lantern festival :.

Spring.

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Anticipating.

12.45pm, Malaysian Time

.: 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

.: Luminous spectrum :.

Of a heart that speaks.

Sitting with the visually impaired and having casual chats with them can at more than one occasion be a remarkably profound experience. More often than not, the words that flow out of them are filled with traces of compassion and wisdom. Truth be told, they may not be able to see things in the physical sense, but their hearts made it possible for them to purge out the impurities, to see, to react to things in ways we seldom do. Patience, calmness, and gratitude; just a few of the many traits one can strive to learn from them. One only needs to stop for a moment, spend a bit of time, to feel what it feels to be them.

...............

If you are not patient upon seeking knowledge you (will have to) be patient upon the difficulty (misery) of ignorance.

Therefore I became ecstatic when I came to know my dearest Sketchedsoul has taken it upon herself to run a braille project! With the aim to empower these gifted individuals with the gift of knowledge, the funds collected will be used to purchase braille Qur'an, Muqaddam and Yasin. These items will then be distributed to children and adults residing in Malaysia, Gaza and Nigeria. 

As of today, she has managed to raise $1375, alhamdulillah. Hopefully she will reach her $2540 mark by Eid, insha'Allah!  

Hop on over to her blog for more info :: http://sketchedsoul.blogspot.com/

Eid is fast approaching.

6.17am Malaysian Time