The ABCs of Life

It has been a really hectic week … or rather month! Due to Raya celebration and SMS’ launch, I had time off from school for every Saturday in October. But I’m teaching at home twice a week now and I’m trying to prepare materials for teaching my babies at home and at SMS and that made very little difference in having my normal Saturdays back. Fatigue; that’s what I’m feeling and time-management; that’s what I really need.

Anyway, we had an official launch of the school last Saturday, officiated by Datuk Shafie Apdal who was kind enough to lend us a hand with a great sum of monetary support. It came out in the news; in Utusan and also about a minute or so clip on national news and that’s on Malaysian tele of course! It’s great to know that there are people concerned about what we’re doing here in Southampton or in the UK, for the Malaysians, but it’s disappointing to also understand that help won’t just come without any compensation. Tit for tat.

I’m always proud to be a part of SMS but not any movie filmed for the purpose of highlighting others on the effort of others. Whether we’ve misunderstood the facts or some people just made some twist, trying to make it faketual. Real, but not true.

Well, enough said about those unpleasant things. What’s done can’t never be undone. The students did a good job performing for that day though we had very little practice due to a really short notice. All of them sang Negaraku and Jalur Gemilang with the audience and later Iffa and Fatin performed Pantun. The double Haziqs, Aisyah and Emira recited two Malay poems and Aimi played a nice tune with her recorder. I didn’t get to see all the performance then, but I was happy seeing them do so during rehearsal.

For your information, Sekolah Malaysia Southampton (Malaysian School Southampton) has been operating since June 2007 with 42 students coming from Malaysian families currently living in Southampton (parents might be students and also workers). It was a great effort founded by Prof. Madya Dr. Abd Samad Nawi whom recently graduated (PhD) from Southampton University, supported and funded by Southampton’s City Council and all Malaysian families here. SMS’ main objective is to educate the younger generation about their roots; religion and culture by stressing on the knowledge of Fardhu ‘Ain and also teaching Malay language as a complementary subject. Teachers and administrators of the school are mostly postgraduate students studying for Masters or PhD. And of course some of them are just like me; a housewife or a househusband whom most people think has the least to do in life … huhuhu.

I should be off to sleep now, we need to leave early for London tomorrow to get Fidaa’s passport done. That’s all folks, sleep tight fi hifzillah :).

What have you been reading these days?

I’d like to do someone a favour. Or maybe more than that, I would like to support the effort of Muslim fiction writers all over the world, especially in places where Islamic Fiction is having a real struggle to get to the readers. If you’re wondering what is Islamic Fiction, or you’ve already fell in love with it, please spend some time to check the Islamic Fiction Book website for more information on the subject.

Learn about the scholars’ insights on Islamic Fiction and discover the writers and their work. Please support this effort by visiting the website, promoting the link or add it on your site/blog. It is very important to ensure Muslim readers are getting Halal reading resources just like the way we would with getting Halal food. I’ll be keeping the site’s add on my links’ list for future references. Jazakumullah Khayral Jazaa’.

Funny Vanity Plates anyone? I am thinking of a plate with number 7 and the word LORDS on, with a stylish black background and silver coloured text to go with . Just like one you’ll find on expensive Lamborghinis or Ferraris in the movies. Or maybe just a plain white plate with a blue text; 1 FAITH or MUSLIM 4 LIFE. The only thing is, I’m not sure we can drive a car around town with them. You don’t want to attract police’s attention having them on right?

But these funny plates are might work wonders as signs for your bedroom, kids’ room, kitchen, storeroom or garden shed or simply anything with a door or entrance I suppose. I think they might even fit on the wall with the right design, colour and wording of course. You can customize it to your own taste and put your own numbers and words of choice. There’s even a range of choices for the background theme from the movies and even your favourite football team. You can even insert a slogan other than the main text and place both on any spot you would like. I would certainly use it for my bedroom or the family area’s door. No background theme for me though. Or if it is lawful in the UK to drive around with your own customized plate, I would like to get one with 2:208 – Enter with Peace! J

Hear ye! Hear ye!

This entry is dedicated to our “Kakak Aziya” (that’s Azila in Handzalah’s cute pronounciation) who’s faraway in Malaysia right now.

Dearest Kakak Aziya,

On Friday 19th October 2007, just a few days after my 9th month birthday, during one of those sleepless cold nights, where I kept Abi and Ummi awake, inhaling the mesmerizing autumn breeze to entertain us: their cute little darlings, me, your cute little comrade has finally took my first steps of walking. I walked that night without Ummi or Abi’s helping hand, and I smiled all the way through because I knew I’ve just achieved something new. Another milestone in my life, another memory for my dearest parents and of course, my lovely Kakak Aziya who has been giving me the walking drills. I would love to have you then, seeing me walk with these tiny two feet for the first time, but Allah Knows Best, it was not meant to be. I hope you would at least feel happy when Ummi told you I finally did. Don’t worry Kakak Aziya. I’ll walk with you one day and I’ll be very good at it then, so that we could walk together to the park and play with the swimming ducks InshaAllah.

Be back “home” soon Kakak Aziya, we miss you.

Love,

We had a discussion on the purpose of life during our first class today and though the answers are clear and evident, not everyone feels that the answers would be theirs if asked with the big question promptly.

I, myself, in a smaller context; am still wondering what is it that I seek from my love for writing and all my writing related activities. Not that I do not know why and what should I write about, but how would I present it in the most effective way as there are so many writers out there engaged in the same field of da’wah, scribbling notes of reminder and remembrance in the name ALlah; calling and inviting people to kindness and peace … what should be my specific purpose or goal?!

For my beloved readers, something to ponder upon - THE PURPOSE OF LIFE from www.islamreligion.com.

p/s: poster; courtesy of Ahmad Affzan Abdullah. Jangan dok tanya muka sapa ehh …

‘Eid Mubarak to all, and may ALlah accept us and all our deeds, forgive us and all our sins.

Alhamdulillah, we’ve celebrated ‘Eid this year in Southampton on Friday, 12th October 2007. That’s a day earlier than Malaysia. It was a bit surprising since everybody was talking about ‘Eid falling on Saturday. Nevertheless, I had a pleasant Friday ‘Eid with friends and my little family to celebrate it with. I cooked Laksa Johore for this special occassion and Alhamdulillah everybody seems to enjoy it and practically everyone had a second bowl! Though none of the guests ate it the way a true Johorean would do; according to my husband - with hands, not fork and spoon and on a plate, not a bowl - the purpose of serving something edible to be enjoyed has been accomplished!

Ramadhan and ‘Eid seems to remind me so much of home. Especially after receiving the ‘kuih’ parcel from home on the last week of Ramadhan and a card from Atok (my grandma) on the very day of ‘Eid! Atok surely knows how the post office works ah?

I called my grandma’s house on the next day to talk to my family and it was so wonderful to have a little chat with nearly everybody! My parents and siblings. My aunts and cousins. Atok. I miss everybody!

Zakwan is leaving for a secondary school in Gontor, Indonesia soon. Ijlal is about to pursue his ‘flying’ dreams in Vancouver before the end of this year. I wish I could see them before they lea ve. ‘Ala kulli haal, take care brothers, be good and mindful of Allah so that He’ll always guide and protect you.

To everyone reading this entry, please accept my apologies for every naughty wrongdoing of mine, and please oh please, remember all of us here in your sincere prayers to God.

‘Eid Sa’eed Mubarak, taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum …

Lots of love from all of us :X

Ramadhan is heading to an end and this is the best part of it. I’m supposed to be thrilled with excitement as the race is on but …

I don’t like to finish it negatively … and I pray that everyone will have enough energy and spirit to enjoy every last bit of Ramadhan to gain what you wish from it. Life’s too short to be sighing about things too little especially when you’re blessed with something too big like Ramadan, right?! Here’s a poem (in Malay though), written few months back for me, myself and everyone to ponder upon. Oh ALlah, don’t leave me to myself, I shall go astray. Oh ALlah, don’t leave me to myself, I shall fade away …

:: Nota buat muharrik ::

Yang tuntas mengguyur
bebunga hati
adalah air hangat
dari kolam mata nan redup.
Meladeni tribulasi,
jalannya ribu-ribu duri
meranjau, sesekali mencacat ritma muharrik.

Dunia kepingin emansipasi.
Tuntutan atas nama hak,
jagoan sentimen alami?
Yang merimbun jiwa ummah
adalah keliru, jahil
dan nafsu yang lengeng dari
hijab taqwa mempamer ‘aib
hurungan rengit-rengit ajaib.

Ajaib!
Sebusuk-busuk baunya
tak terhidu rongga nan capik.
Santai,
tak ada yang mengadu meski dilingkung jelek.
Hanya ada jerit muharrik terlandai
yang ingin bingkas lepas dan lari,
kembali menjunjung titah rabbani.

Usah gusar hai muharrik!
Jalan saja penuh ‘izzah memulau polemik.
Rengit-rengit ajaib itu
tidurkan di celah dua tanganmu.

khaleel el-wafy
030607, fd

I think it was 2 days ago that I finally landed on bro Muadz’s blog, again, after so long. One of the latest entry was on Nisa’ Malaysia’s visit to a house where one of the most famous Malaysian rock star, Amy (Search) with his wife Norish and kids live. They were there for a noble purpose. To share knowledge and experience, to exchange the greatest gift from God, love fillah - because of ALlah, the most powerful tool in connecting human hearts. The rock star and his wife is now on a mission after being blessed with the opportunity to experience the great journey of Hajj, where changes, really big changes are taking place. I wish them all the best and may ALlah help them throughout this struggle. May ALlah grant us all the patience to improve and to be consistent in our quest of obedience. For more stories, please click.

Talking about change reminds me of the talk by a brother on the 1st week of Ramadhan. He shared about how Ramadhan has always been the month of change, and should be, for all of us. Ramadhan, in which the wind of change sweeps through every Muslim mind is like a 29/30 days program where Muslims simply tuned to do good, more goodness and absolutely kind. He talked about how lazy and non-Islamic some of us could be the rest of the year but when Ramadhan comes the true Muslim spirit simply turns on. You rarely see rows of people for Jam’ah (congregational prayers) unless it’s Jumu’ah, but when Ramadhan comes, every prayer is like Jumu’ah and Jumu’ah is merrier than ever before. People even spend longer hours in masjids (mosques) at night, performing Taraweeh prayers, keeping themselves busy with the Qur’an, reading it from cover to cover, making more time to understand its contents. Many Muslims set a big budget for Ramadhan. For sadaqah, zakah and some people take the opportunity not only to spend but feed others voluntarily in this blessed month. Some part-time Muslims would be allocating more hours to being one even if they can’t do it full-time. Even heavy smokers feel it’s easier to keep the cigarettes inside their boxes, untouched …at least till night comes in Ramadhan.

Weird isn’t it feeling there’s so little time in Ramadhan when we actually do less cooking, washing or driving out for lunch? When we wake up earlier and sleep much much later? It’s like there’s never enough time to do things because there’s this voice in your head telling you to read the Qur’an, to do more prayers and recite adzkaar, to visit your long-time-no-see friend, to do good, to be kind.

Ramadhan is an evident motivational program for everyone to recharge their imaan (faith). It might even be a total makeover for some. And what’s with all that?

Not only one could see that Ramadhan is a blessing to us, but more importantly deep down in our souls (as long as it has not been sealed from the truth, wal’iyazubillah) there’s still conscience and desire to do good and be kind. I just love how this brother motivated us to CHANGE; not by telling us that we should just weep about our sins, feel scared of the hellfire, death is near so repent and repent … but he stressed that there’s good in all of us, and by the virtue of doing good deeds and blessings from Allah we’ll be able to defeat Shaytaan, avoid evil and please Allah. And all of us, could enter Jannah, InshaAllah. Imagine rewards multiplying for every kind deed in this blessed month. Imagine the forgiveness one could attain in this holy month. Imagine how change is possible and we should not let this Ramadhan pass without grabbing the chance to do so!

There’s more in us than just forgetfulness and lust. We can do this! We can be good, we can be kind, if we want to. And we do want to. Except for sometimes, our wants had been buried too deep, down in the holes of dunyaa that enables both forgetfulness and lust to overcome our desires to be naturally obedient servant of the only One. If you’re think you’re bad, you’re not good enough to be among the pious and kind, try searching deep down and think again. I wish you’ll find something to recover your imaan. If you can’t and you’re fasting … SEE! That’s one a must do good deed in Ramadhan! Even if you’re not, you do have a kind heart to be reading this entry till the end

Some people are afraid of changes. They are more afraid to be called pious than to be compared to Shaytaan. Pious isn’t cool. Nope, it’s just not the in-thing, yet to be the latest trend.

Muslims are actually cool. Really, really cool. They make the world a nicer place to hangout in peace. But real Shaytaan won’t want you to be one because they want you to burn with them in hell.

Why should we make Shaytaan happy and live in misery?

Come on dude, there’s everything cool about Jannah yet nothing is about Jahannam right? And that is, a literal fact.