The Way We Were

    ….another year coming to an end. Countdown?? as I write this, I have basically less than forty-eight hours before we change the calendar to 2010..  mentally preparing myself to brace yet another year, Insha'Allah..  and while closing up 2009, these words keep playing on my mind..

 

Memories, light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we give to one another
For the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me would we? Could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were.

 

… another piece from Barbra Streisand, beautiful clear voice… love her voice. Below I put up a video of her concert in 1993. Hope you enjoy it as much as I...  HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

Quotes:

“A moment lasts all of a second, but the memory lives on forever.”

“Life gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moment we get memories that last a life time...”

“Memories are the treasures that we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls, to keep our hearts warm when we are lonely.” ~ Becky Aligada

“I've never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. I don't understand people who hide from their past. Everything you live through helps to make you the person you are now.” ~ Sophia Loren

“Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us.”  ~ Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest.

“We do not remember days; we remember moments.”  ~ Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand

"Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened." ~ Dr. Seuss

"A trip to nostalgia now and then is good for the spirit." ~ Dan Bartolovic

"Memories are and always will be forever" ~ Nicole Rayner

 

 

A new day has begun..

MEMORY– BARBRA STREISAND

Midnight ~ not a sound from the pavement.
Has the moon lost her memory. She is smiling alone.
In the lamplight the withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan.

Memory ~ all alone in the moonlight. I can dream of the old days

Life was beautiful then.  
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again.
Every street lamps seems to beat a fatalistic warning.
Someone mutters and a streetlamp sputters and soon it will be morning..

Daylight ~ I must wait for the sunrise. I must think of a new life, and I mustn't give in.
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too.  And a new day will begin.

Burnt out ends of smoky days
the stale cold smell of morning.
A streetlamp dies  
another night is over
another day is dawning.

Touch me ~ it's so easy to leave me. All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun.
If you touch me you’ll understand what happiness is.
Look ……… a new day has begun.

Songwriters: Nunn, Trevor;Eliot, T S;Lloyd-Webber, Andrew

 

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The day of Asyura; 10th Muharram

سْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْم

Today is the 10th of Muharram in the Muslim calendar and is called the Asyura Day. Asyura comes from the Arabic word, asyara which means ten. It is one of the significant days in the Muslim calendar as there are many stories involving prophets. Amongst them are, on the 10th of Muharram;

• Allah created the universe
• Allah gave His blessings
• Allah created ‘Arasy
• Allah created Jibrail, the angel
• Allah created Adam, the first human
• The day Allah pardoned Adam a.s. after years of repent for disobeying God
• Nuh a.s. and his faithful followers saved from the big flood which happened for six months. Nuh’s ark landed on the summit of a mountain.
• Ibrahim a.s. was born
• Yusuf a.s. freed after seven years in prison
• Yaakub a.s. was cured of his blindness the day his son, Yusuf a.s. returned
• Ayub a.s. was cured from his illness
• Musa a.s. was saved from the Firaun army, the day when the Red Sea opened up for him
• The holy Taurat was given to Musa a.s.
• Yunus a.s. came out safely from the mouth of a great whale after being inside the fish for 40 days
• Daud a.s. was forgiven by Allah
• Sulaiman a.s. was given a very big empire by Allah
• Isa a.s. was lifted to heaven when the Romans were chasing him to crucify him
• Saidina Hussein ibni Ali, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.’s grandson was killed at Karbala (as in Karbala now in Iran).

 

WHAT CAN WE DO on the day of Asyura?

recite this (at least 70 times) as much as possible:

حَسْبُنَااللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيْرُ

Hasbunallahu wani'mal wakiilu ni'mal maulaa wani'man nashiir

Solat:    

Two rakaat sunnat prayer, two times (meaning 4 rakaat with two salam)… reciting Al-Fatihah and 11 times of Al-Ikhlas all four rakaat.

 

 

Then dua:

 

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مِلْءَالْمِيْزَانِ وَمُنْتَهَى الْعِلْمِ

وَمَبْلَغ الرِّضَاوَزِنَةَالْعَرْشِ

لاَمَلْجَأَ وَلاَمَنْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ اِلاَّ اِلَيْهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَدَدَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوِتْرِ

وَعَدَدَكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ كُلِّهَانَسْأَلُكَ السَّلاَمَةَ

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَااَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

وَلاَحَوْلَ وَلاَقُوَّةَاِلاَّبِاللَّهِ الْعَلِىِّ الْعَظِيْمِ

وَهُوَحَسْبُنَ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيْرُ

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ

 

Subhanallahi mil-al miizaani wa muntahal 'ilmi

wa mablaghar ridhaa wazinatal 'arsyi

Laa malja-a walaa manja-a minallahi illa ilaihi subhaanallahi 'adadasy syaf'ir wal witri

Wa 'adada kalimaatillahittaammaati kulliha nas-alukas salaamata

birahmatika yaa arhamar raahimina

Walaa haula walaa quwwata illa billahil 'aliyyil 'azhiimi

Wa huwa hasbuna wa ni'mal wakiilu ni'mal maulaa wa ni'man nashiiru

Wa shallalahu 'alaa sayyidina muhammadin wa 'alaa aalihi washahbihii wasallam

 

Come morning, try to fast on 10th Muharram + 11th Muharram…

 

Some cook  porridge…

 

 

وَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ يَقُوْلُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 Wa minhum-many-yaquulu Rabbanaaa ‘aatinaa fiddunyaa hasanatanw-wa fil-‘Aakhirati hasanatanw-wa qinaa ‘azaaban-Naar. (al-Baqarah:201)

And there are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter. And save us from the torment of the Fire!”

 

 

 

References:

Panduan Lengkap Sembahyang Sunat – Mohd Yusoff Haji Ismail (cetakan BIN HALABI PRESS) (2008)

BaAlawi.com : Asyura - 10th Muharram (Supplication)

Hari Asyura 10 Muharram Antara Sunnah Dan Bid'ah

Puasa Sunnah di Bulan Muharram (Puasa Asyura)

Empat belas perkara sunat dilakukan pada hari Asyura

Hadis rekaan tentang Hari Asyura

 

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My Queen and breast cancer

She has decided to come out and grace the world today (Saturday 26/12/2009@ 12.45pm)…  and due to that, we decided to take her ‘everywhere’ we could today. Cancelled everything else and spend the rest of the day with her, for her. LUV U MAK…

My mom suffers from breast cancer...

Breast Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's important to understand some basics: What is breast cancer and how does it happen. There’s thousands of articles, support groups, forums, seminars and talks that are able to help you figure out how you can manage anxiety so you can focus on living a happy and healthy life.

I have read so much ever since.. only wish that my mother is willing to accept and work with us to cure. The state of denial she is in does not help at all. Love her all the same. (It was only last year that we’ve managed to get a doctor’s diagnose… she does not want medical checkups. Stressful eh..)

Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by excessive, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which invade and destroy other tissues. It develops in almost any organ or tissue of the body and may affect people of all ages, but risk tends to increase with age.

These are some articles from the world wide web that I find educational. In no particular order…  medicine net on breast cancer… (this is a real library for me), Cancer – educate yourself, natural Health for Women: Causes, Prevention, and Natural Cures of Breast Cancer, Alternative cancer solution, world without cancer, Laetrile Vitamin B17, B17 Apricot Seed, Khazanah Herba Warisan Bumi. Thousands of articles… there’s books, magazines. Seek and you will find. I am sure if you ‘Google’ and spend time reading them, you’d find lots of information.

 

Some pictures from the world wide web…. cells, the real thing and an x-ray that is similar to my mother’s.

       

Emotions

A cancer diagnosis brings many things to cope with, both body and mind. When you are given the news of a breast cancer diagnosis, you may react on many different levels all at once. Your heart skips a beat, lungs gasp for air, ears block out sound, eyes become still and wet, stomach contracts, and arms move protectively across your chest. Your mind and emotions wrestle for control, a struggle that may go on until you have time to adjust. Your reaction may vary, since your family situation, support network, workplace setting, financial status, and perceptions about cancer are unique to you.

Remember, too, that when you are diagnosed, you join a great many other women and men who have been down this road and survived. So as you go into treatment, plan on being a survivor.

For me… Love, Understanding, Tolerance, Redha, Dua and Prayers… LOVE YOU MOM!

                    

 

 

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Reference:

Emotions and Your Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Typical emotions after diagnosis

How to deal with a spouse’s emotions after breast cancer

Kesan Zikir terhadap otak manusia

Rawatan Al-Quran dan Asma’ Al-Husna

Solat

                       Solat/Prayer… it is obligatory for a Muslim but one that most choose not to do… My story: I was having a difficult time in my personal and business life. I seeked to change my fate and wanting to become a good, obedient Muslim (I was a nominal Muslim then) has led me to the spiritual path.

عَسى‏ رَبِّي أَنْ يَهْدِيَني‏ سَواءَ السَّبيلِ

( ‘asaa Rabbiii ‘any-yahdiyanii sa-waaa’assabiil )

I do hope that my Lord will show me the smooth and straight path (Al-Qashash:22)

I sought Allah’s blessings for me and things happened almost immediately. I suddenly had an intense urge to pray. On the 1st of Ramadhan (2007), with a slight motivation from a very dear friend, I was suddenly praying five times a day as required, and adorning hijab. In other words, I was starting to understand what it meant being a Muslim. I became conscious of the need to know and obey Allah. Since then, much of my time is spent on reading and studying religion, studying the Quran, trying to understand most of all what Allah requires of us. The more I understand, the more I look forward to it… waiting in anticipation for the ‘time’, for the next solah, my time with Allah… besides that, if you really study the benefits of solat, you’ll regret not doing it from an early age… 

Sharing some of what I’ve read:

Prayer is something that causes one to receive sustenance.

It delights, nourishes the soul and brightens one’s countenance.

It gets rid of laziness, makes the limbs active and increases one’s physical strength.

It keeps away harmful things and repels catastrophes.

It casts away illnesses.

It expands the chest (making one at ease and giving him insight).

It strengthens and illuminates the heart.

It is something that safeguards one’s physical health.

It brings and safeguards one’s blessings.

It keeps away the Syaitan (the devil).

It draws one close to Ar-Rahman (Allah, the Most Merciful).

         The reason behind this is that prayer is one’s connection to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. So, based on the strength of a person’s relationship with his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, the doors of goodness will accordingly be opened up for him, bad things and the reasons for them befalling him will be cut off, along with safety and good health, wealth and worldly riches, relaxation, bliss, enjoyment, and all types of joyful affairs will be brought to him, and in an expedient manner, too.

 

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَ اسْجُدُوا وَ اعْبُدُوا,

رَبَّكُمْ وَ افْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Yaaa ‘ayyuhallaziina ‘aamanur-ka-‘uu wasjuduu wa’-buduu

Rabbakum waf-‘alulkhayrala ‘allakum tuflihuun.

O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.

Al-Hajj:77

 

This is another article I picked in the many read ups (my process of understanding why) on solat…

The power prayer

The solat or ritual prayer is the second pillar of Islam, after the syahadah (declaration of faith that there is no god other than GOD, and that Prophet Muhammad is HIS Messenger). This is because the solat is the embodiment of everything that is required of a Muslim in his attempt to know his Creator, and to obey HIM. It is a formal session of communion with GOD in which the servant expresses his love, faith, submission, obedience, gratitude, repentance and dependency towards his Creator, Master and Sustainer.

This is demonstrated in thoughts, words and actions through the prescribed movements and recitations, and the requirement for full concentration, understanding and “presence” (“khusyuk”) for the prayer to be valid. It is a physical, verbal, mental and spiritual exercise of remembrance that is beneficial for the mind, soul (self/ego or nafs) and body.

Done properly and regularly (five times a day, plus many non-obligatory prayers), it will cleanse the soul of selfish tendencies, sharpen the mind and allow the godly spirit within to take charge. The obedient Muslim (believer/submitter) will progress to a state of true faith (Mu’min), GOD-consciousness (Muttaqin) and finally live his life in the presence of GOD (Muhsin). This will be reflected in his character. He will be loving, compassionate, helpful and exhibit many other good attributes; and he himself will be loved and liked by those around him.

 

 حَافِظُوْا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ و الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَ قُوْمُواِللهِ قَانِتِيْنَ

Haafizuu ‘alaa-Salawaati was-Salaatil-wustaa; wa quu-muu lillaahi qaanitiin.

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers. Especially, the Middle Prayer, and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)

(Al-Baqarah:238)

 

Reference:

Benefits of Solat by Zainol Abideen

Muslim prayers have physical benefits: study

Fadhilat Solat

Sains Solat

Solat improves sex, impotency, health – study

Solat – one of the main pillars of Islam

 

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Love Story (Where do I begin)

         

Where do I begin to tell the story, Of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me..  Where do I start??

With her first hello… She gave a meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love another time
She came into my life and made the living fine, She fills my heart

She fills my heart with very special things
With angel songs, with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That any where I go
I'm never lonely
With her along who could be lonely
I reach for her hand. It’s always there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

 

 

LOVE STORY ~ Where do I begin?

…another song that I love since whenever. The soothing melody plus Andy William’s husky voice I think… enjoy it… 

 

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Whatever will be, will be…

This is a song my mother would hum to me when I was a child. Only the chorus though. She never could sing it in full ‘cause she don’t speak English… as I grew up, I seek the lyrics.. the song sort of grew with me. Each time I evolved in life, the words plays in my mind.. and now, I want to share it with others especially the younger generation..

The future’s not ours to see. We are responsible for all that we do. No regrets in life.

We put an effort and work things out… but the final say, still belongs to the almighty..  QUE SERA SERA

 

 

QUE SERA SERA

When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother..
“What will I be… Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?”
Here's what she said to me;
Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera,  what will be, will be

When I grew up and fell in love, I asked my sweetheart..
”What lies ahead? Will we have rainbows, day after day..”
Here's what my sweetheart said;
Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera, what will be, will be

Now I have children of my own, they ask their mother
”What will I be? Will I be handsome? Will I be rich?”
I tell them tenderly;
Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera, what will be, will be
Que Sera, Sera

End of Zulhijjah… Welcome Muharram

Another year gone, a new one in sight… Ma’al Hijrah we call it. Prayers and dua for our wellbeing.. far Allah loves those who dua..

Recite this three times before Asar ends on the last day of Zulhijjah..  it is said; “and the devils will only sigh in disgust over the wasted effort in seducing the son of Adam throughout the year.”

Verily, when He (Allah SAW) intends a thing, His command is “Be”, and it is. (36:82)

Insha'Allah…

Bismillaahir rahmaanir rahiim.

Wa shallallaahu ‘alaa sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aalihi wa shahbihii wa sallam. Allaahumma maa ‘amiltu fii haadzihis sanati mimmaa nahaitaniii ‘anhu falam atub minhu wa lam tansahu, wa halimta ‘alayya ba’da qudratika ‘alaa ‘uquubatii wa da’autanii ilat taubati, minhu ba’da jiraa-atii ‘alaa ma’syiyatiika fainnii astaghfiruka faghfirlii bifadhlika wa maa ‘amiltuhu fiihaa mimmaa tardhaahu wa wa’attanii ‘alaihits tsawaaba fa asalukallaahumma yaa kariimu, yaa dzal jalaali wal ikraami. Antataqabbalahu minniii wa laa taq tha’ rajaa-ii minka ya kariim. Wa shallallaahu ‘alaa sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa’alaa aalihi wa shahbihii wa sallam. (3 X)

DOA AKHIR TAHUN

Segala puji hanya bagi Allah, Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbir sekalian alam. Selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. serta ahli keluarga baginda dan para sahabatnya.
Ya Allah, sesungguhnya pada tahun ini aku telah melakukan laranganmu tetapi aku masih belum bertaubat sedangkan Engkau tidak reda dan melupai perkara itu. Engkau telah menangguhkan azabMu yang telah ditetapkan kepadaku. Engkau telah memerintahkan supaya aku bertaubat dari kesalahan itu. Sesungguhnya pada hari ini aku memohon keampunan dariMu, ampunilah aku dan apa yang telah aku lakukan pada tahun ini yang Engkau redai dan Engkau janjikan pahala maka aku memohonnya daripada Engkau. Ya Allah, Ya Karim, Ya Zaljalali Wal Ikram.
Selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. serta ahli keluarga baginda dan para sahabatnya. Segala puji hanya bagi Allah, Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbir sekalian alam…Amin…

Sesiapa yang membaca doa ini maka akan berkata syaitan, ‘Kesusahan bagiku dan sia-sialah pekerjaanku menggoda anak Adam pada tahun ini dan Allah akan membinasakan aku pada saat itu juga. Dengan membaca doa ini Allah akan mengampunkan dosanya setahun.’

  

Recite this three times after Maghrib prayer the on the eve (night) of first Muharram.

Says Satan; “The son of Adam has been saved from me this year through because Allah SAW has delegated two Angels to guard from any trials of Satan.”

Ameen Ya Rabbi ul Amin... Insya'Allah.

 

Bismillaahir rahmaanir rahiim.

Wa shallallaahu ‘alaa sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aalihi wa shahbihii wa sallam. Allaahumma antal abadiyyul qadiimul awwal. Wa ‘alaa fadhlikal ‘azhiim, wa juudikal mu’awwal. Wa haadzaa ‘aamun jadiidun, qad aqbala nas-alukal ‘ishmata fiihi minasy-syaithaani wa auliyaa-ihii wa junuudihii wal ‘auna ‘alaa haadzihin nafsil ammaarati bissuu-i, wal isytighaala bimaa yuqarribunii ilaika zulfaa yaa dzal jalaali wal ikraam. Wa shallallaahu ‘alaa sayyidinaa Muhammadin wa’alaa aalihi wa shahbihii wa sallam. (3 X)

 DOA AWAL TAHUN

Segala puji bagi Allah, Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbir sekalian alam. Selawat dan salam ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. serta ahli keluarga baginda dan para sahabatnya.
Ya Allah, Engkaulah yang kekal abadi untuk selama-lamanya. Demi kelebihanMu yang Maha Agong dan kemurahanMu yang melimpah, sesungguhnya pada tahun ini aku memohon kepadaMu perlindungan daripada syaitan yang direjam, dari sekalian kuncunya, tenteranya dan penolongnya. Aku juga memohon perlindungan daripada nafsu amarah yang sentiasa mendorong ke arah kejahatan dan melalaikan dengan perkara yang tidak berfaedah daripada mendekatkan diriku kepadaMu.
Selawat serta salam ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. serta ahli keluarga baginda dan para sahabatnya. Segala puji hanya bagi Allah, Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbir sekalian alam…Amin…

Sesiapa yang membaca doa ini maka akan berkata syaitan,’Telah amanlah anak Adam daripada godaanku pada tahun ini kerana Allah telah mewakilkan dua malaikat untuk memeliharanya dari fitnah syaitan.’

 

 

Reference:

Surah Yaasin dan Tahlil oleh Drs. Abu Hanifah terbitan CV. Toha Putra, Semarang.

Dua - Prayer to Allah is always answered

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hijra in Islam

The Hijrah

 

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