.: Stifling smog :.

Hope.

As I flipped through the pages of my organiser, straining my eyes to read the tiny little scribbles, I questioned myself over and over again ...

Whenever people look up to me for knowledge, had I been truthful and courteous in responding to them?

Whenever people seek help from me, had I been sincere and humble in helping them to the best of my ability?

Whenever people speak good of me, had I been doing all the good all this while merely to seek their pleasure and to gain praises from them?

And the most daunting question that lingers in my mind is ...

In my attempt to attain Gods' forgiveness, love and mercy by accumulating good deeds, as investments to book and secure my ticket to heaven, have I at my own expense edge an inch closer to claiming my ticket to hellfire?

Fear has crept into me.

12.19noon Malaysian Time.

.: Weaving reality :.

Patching reality.

12.40am.
The rain has stopped.
Sitting in my room.
With a single thought.


"As though I am talking to the moon ..."

The clock is ticking.

12.48am Malaysian Time

.: Unshed memento :.

Wandering Friday.

And truthful was the poet when he said:

Knowledge is beauty and silence is salvation

If you speak, then do not be excessive

If I ever regretted my silence just once

Then I have indeed regretted my speech a lot more

Aligning perspectives.

10.33am Malaysian Time

.: 爱国是信仰的一部分 :.

Patriotism is an act of faith.

When Imam Haji Abdul Hakim Liu Jingyi was a teenager, one of the most famous Arabic calligraphers in the Eastern part of China, Imam Cao Jin Zao, selected him as a student and he continued to learn and develop his calligraphy skills especially the Arabic calligraphy.

Having a solid foundation in Chinese and Arabic calligraphy study, he continued to pursue excellence through continuous and relentless practice and devotion. Haji Abdul Hakim used the traditional Chinese method and skill to write Arabic calligraphy. By judging the calligraphy techniques he used one can see that the Da-Kai style is impressive, rough and strong, the Zhong-Kai style is round, plump and graceful and the Xiao-Kai style is gentle, neat, smooth and as clear as silk.

Now, at the age of more than 80 years old, Haji Abdul Hakim has reached an outstanding level in both Chinese and Arabic calligraphy - a mastery level – and created style and masterpiece, which are uniquely his own and recognized internationally.

More info:

http://www.chinesemuslimkhat.com/2010/07/about-imam-haji-abdul-hakim-liu-jingyi.html

... ~ ...

Coincidentally met him and his jolly entourage when I was at the book fair. Managed to snap some photos with them and put my rusty Mandarin into practice - Beijing style. The most enchanting experience apart from the constant hugs and kisses from Hajah Aishah, was when they extended an invitation for me to visit their home in Beijing, and to further add icing to the cake, they even offered to cook for me. Time for me to put on weight, eh?

想念他们。

10.51am Malaysian Time

.: Silent prayer :.

In solitude.

Been feeling troubled over a number of things within a span of four to five weeks. To be frank, it is unbecoming of me to react in that manner for such a prolonged period and it was getting a tad bit wearisome for me to spend time pondering over it, wherein to a greater extent, there were times where I even shed tears just by thinking about it.

Nevertheless, just as I felt as though the desperation was beyond my ability to shoulder, I received a text message from a sister inquiring whether I can assist her to interview a handful of scholarship recipients. Considering I had the time to spare, I leaped at the opportunity and made a dash for my cell phone.

Speaking and communicating with the applicants had in a way provided the relief I so terribly needed. There I was, minutes ago, bent on thinking that I am going through unsolvable issues, yet here are these students, most of whom are much younger than me, bent on trying to secure their scholarships for the love of God. They made me think again on the amount of privilege I have just by being able to lead life without having the need to worry about paying back study loans, and tackling financial issues. The most profound realization was, what was I doing at their age?

It was such a heart-moving moment that by the time I completed my report, I sent a short message beneath it, with a silent prayer, stating my concern hoping that none of these applicants will be negated from getting the scholarship.

Days went by.

I was playing scrabble *I am such a geek* when I received text messages one after the other ...

"I got the scholarship!!! Thank you sis!!!"

Alhamdulillah [Praise the Lord].

8.58pm Malaysian Time

.: Darus-sunnah :.

International Institute for Hadith Sciences.



A monologue:

The innumerable du'as (supplications) made ...

While in Medina, Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina and Mecca ...

Had left the realm of the dreamers one at a time ...

To settle in a place, known to the travelers, as the ephemeral life ...

Will those du'as, under His divine guidance and mercy ...

Find their way, to live on, in the eternal life?

Fleeting thoughts.

4.32pm Malaysian Time

.: Valley of the Seekers :.

Taught by Sh. Riad Ouarzazi.

The student tribe of AlMaghrib Malaysia - Qabeelat Ihsaan is bringing this course to Malaysia.

• Seminar Info: http://almaghrib.org/seminars/541
• Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=842010397298
  
• Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/276499535727705/

... ~ ...

There was a time in primary school where I, along with fellow classmates were drilled with the 99 attributes in association to Allah. In all sincerity, I cannot dispel this gritting fact that for several years I was genuinely clueless of its significance. On the most part, I wasn't able to relate to it, let alone place any effort to put it into application in my daily life. It was only in high school that I took the initiative to grasp a better understanding of it, mostly because mum asked me to invoke one of the attributes whenever I'm feeling under the weather.

That attribute was الوكيل (Al-Wakeel - The Ultimate Trustee).

Mum :: No. You cannot go. Who will take care of you?

Me :: Al-Wakeel! He has been doing it even before I existed in this world! :D

Mum :: I'll get your dad.

Note :: Al-Wakeel’s root word is وكل, which means to appoint or entrust for the care or management of something. It also means to confide in, lean upon, submit to the One and only One who can be entrusted with the management and resolution of all affairs.

Anticipating Feb. :)

10.40pm Malaysian Time