Habib Umar bin Hafiz's Tausiyah in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia - 27 and 28 October 2016

Bismillah.

Alfu Alfu Alhamdulillah!

By far, the opportunity to be at Habib Umar's majalis twice on Thursday and Friday, was the best Divine gift for this faqir this year.

Praise is due to Allah, indeed, as said Habib Umar bin Hafiz at the outset of his tausiyah at Masjid Hussain in Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan (1 hour drive south of KL).

Below are my short sketchy notes of Habib Umar's tausiyah as translated by none other than Habib Ali Zaenal Abidin bin Hamid.

"Glory be to Allah who gathered all of you here, you who hope for the pouring of His Mercy, you who hope for His Gifts. Make your heart present before Allah, hope for His gaze upon you. Allah offers 360 Divine Gaze in a day, should you be fortunate to receive one gaze from Him, you shall never fail ever. We are on the eve of Friday, this is a good time to avail ourselves for the Divine Gaze. The ummah before us were not aware of this opportunity."

"We are told to make as much salawat as possible on Fridays. Prophet Muhammad said in a hadith: Friday is the best of days for you so make much salawat for me. Your salawat will reach me, no matter where you are." 

"O you who hope for Allah's Divine gaze, send salutations to the Prophet. If you make salawat for the Prophet, it's impossible that you will not receive His Gaze. You are here engulfed with plenty of salawat. Salawat is your link and connection to the Prophet. The fruit of salawat as narrated in ahadith by Imam Tirmidhi and several other narrators is that those who are nearest to the Prophet on the Day of Resurrection are those who make the most salawat to him salallah alaihi wasalam. Do you know how wonderful that is? Do you know how great that gift is?"

"There are other hadith about Allah making 10 salawat to reciprocate one salawat we make. This is a good provision for the believers whether he/she does it in a group or alone, whether he/she does it in private or in public. When a group gathers to make zikir and salawat for the Prophet, they will not disperse thereafter with a loss."    

"Those who recite Surah Al Kahf on Thursday evening/eve of Friday or on a Friday will receive Allah's light up until Baitul Atiq and the light will last until the following Friday. Whoever recites Surah Ad Dukhan on the eve of Friday will receive Allah's pardon on that night." 

"Whoever makes salawat 80 times after Asar prayer, Allah will forgive his/her sins which had been committed in 80 years. Whoever cleanse himself or take a bath to attend Friday prayers, listen to the khutbah and did not bother his fellow brothers during the prayers, will be granted the pardon by Allah until the next Friday and add three days to that." 

"Did you hear those virtues? O you ummah of the Prophet, did you not listen to those great rewards that were mentioned?"

"The angels were not amazed upon seeing the ummah of the Prophets before Rasulullah being saved from the torments of the Fire. They said Alhamdulillah but they were not amazed. However, they are amazed to see ummah of Prophet Muhammad who is not saved from Hell. How can they not be saved, they are ummah of Rasulullah?"

***      

Habib Umar bin Hafiz ended his tausiyah with heartfelt and lengthy duá as the crowd chanted with deep emotions: Ya Allah Hu Ya Allah, Ya Allah Hu Ya Allah, Ya Allah Hu Ya Allah...

Habib Umar bin Hafiz standing on the right.
To his left is Habib Ali Zaenal Abidin bin Hamid who acted as translator.

On Friday morning (28 October 2016) Habib Umar bin Hafiz read a couple of hadith at Masjid At Taqwa in Paroi, Negeri Sembilan. Habib Ali Zaenal Abidin once again acted as his translator. It was my first time visiting this impressive three-story mosque. It felt really good driving there early in the morning seeing so many cars heading towards the same direction and when we arrived, we saw hundreds of cars already parked outside the mosque's compound. It was a heart-soothing sight to behold, to see people congregating first thing in the morning.

Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Habib Ali Zaenal Abidin bin Hamid
at Masjid At Taqwa, Paroi, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia  

Habib Umar bin Hafiz led the Subuh prayers
and elucidated two hadith thereafter

Key points from Habib Umar bin Hafiz's tazkirah delivered at Masjid At Taqwa:

• Praise be to Allah for gathering us at this good place on a good day - Friday, as we rushed to enliven the mosque to perform obligatory prayer, hence following the sunnah of Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam.
• There's a hadith of Rasulullah about Allah promising a banquet in Heaven for those who come to the mosque in the morning. There's another hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah about the virtues of those who attend the Subuh prayers in congregation at a mosque, their journey as they leave home is akin to jihad.
• The five daily prayers are important especially Subuh and Isha. Those who miss these two prayers may be considered as munafiq - those who outwardly manifest Islam but are inwardly kufur. These people are considered munafiq in their certainty and action. These people have weak iman and they tend to lie in their speech. Allah will brand those who repeatedly lie in their speech, as liars.
• One who is honest in his/her speech will be honest in his/her actions. Those who are honest in their actions, they have great resolve, love, and sincerity in their hearts. These good attributes could win them a great station known as siddiqin.
• Siddiqin is the highest maqam/level as far as sainthood is concerned and the highest category of siddiqin is called siddiqin kubra. The sahabah (companions of the Prophet), the Muhajirin, the Ansar, Saidina Abu Bakar and Saidatina Siti Aishah are among those who fall in this category. Saidatina Aishah was also known as Siddiqah binti Siddiq.
• The siddiqin is mentioned in the Quran among those who shall receive Allah's blessings i.e. the anbiya, siddiqin, syuhada and solehin. 
• Habib Umar prayed so that the congregations and anyone who love these elite people would be gathered with them.
• There is much benefit from listening to the stories of siddiqin. We should make an effort to tell their stories.
• Those who do not care about the stories of anbiya/siddiqin and those who are tricked by the stories of people who are distant from Allah instead, they should muhasabah. Those who are heedless would normally be attracted to stories of those who are heedless like them - stories and photos of people who do not cover their aurah which do not bring any benefits. Their hearts will become hardened/rustic.
• We should change our heart to make it incline towards stories of the anbiya and siddiqin. We should narrate their stories in our homes. Among the prophets who were considered as siddiqin are: Nabi Ibrahim, Nabi Idris and Nabi Yusuf. One of the fundamentals for a believer is to have faith in Allah and Rasul. 
• Allah gives a special honor for those who could attain a good level of faith - people who are truthful in their speech, actions and attributes. Allah will protect and help those who have taqwa. 
• Allah mention in the Quran about the awliya who neither fear nor grief; those who have iman and taqwa. Allah conveys to the awliya His glad tidings about the rewards He will grant them in the Heavens. Pray so that Allah would grant us similar bounties as He has promised them.
• Habib Umar then talked about the virtues of those who pray Subuh and Isha in a congregation at the mosque. Those who truly understand the benefits of doing so would crawl to the mosque. There is a story about one ill/old person who couldn't walk so he asked his family to carry him. His family refused at first. He pleaded, saying: 'Did you not hear the azan calling us to solah and falah (success)? Upon hearing the old man's plea, one of his family members carried him to the mosque. The man passed away during prostration in the second rakaah. He died at the point when he was nearest to Allah during sujud. O Allah, bestow upon us this great honor.
• Habib Umar went on to elucidate the meanings of another hadith about the seven wrongful destructive acts i.e. shirik. 
• There is a hadith about the shayatin giving up on trying to make people worship them so that they focus on creating rifts between people. 
• There is also a hadith in which Prophet Muhammad said he's not worried about his ummah committing shirik. He's more worried that his ummah are being lured by the worldly desires thus compete with the previous generation in amassing wealth and end up being destroyed by it just like them.
• We must know the difference between shirik and tawassul. Making tawassul with the solehin hoping for bounties/help from Allah is not shirik. Look for wasilah (the means). Those who mix up shirik with tawasul are ignorant.
• Habib Umar then narrated the story of Prophet Yaakub's eyes being healed when Prophet Yusuf's shirt was thrown to his face. Prophet Yusuf could have asked Allah directly for Allah to cure Yaakub's blindness. Allah is certainly capable of curing Yaakub's eyesight without any intermediaries e.g a cloth/shirt. Buy why did Allah only grant cure to Yaakub when a shirt made contact with his face/eyes? Indeed, true knowledge reside with the Prophets and their followers.
• Prophet Muhammad kissed the Hajarul Aswad (Black Stone) - is that tabarruk or is that a disgrace for a Prophet like him to do so? His lips and his forehead which reached the Sidratul Muntaha still seek tabarruk from Hajarul Aswad, now what about my forehead and yours?
• The barakah of Hajarul Aswad is only as big as an atom (minute) compared to that of Prophet Muhammad. Similarly, Maqam Ibrahim. Allah commands us to make it a place for solah. Prophet Muhammad too, performed solah at Maqam Ibrahim. 
• Prophet Muhammad used to have ZamZam water delivered to Madinah so he could use it and make duá to heal the sick. Do you think you know better than Prophet Muhammad? 
• Are you going to say those who consult the doctors, who take medication, who undergo a surgery have fallen into shirik? Allah creates all these as wasilah (medium).
• May Allah purify us from the small/hidden shirik (shirik khafi) as He has purified us from the big/apparent shirik (shirik jali).
• Habib Umar then talked about sihir as the biggest sin. That those who seek help from syaitan through witchcraft/black magic will be convened with them - those who are kufur. Allah will not accept their solah for 40 days. 

Habib Umar concluded his tazkirah with duá so that Allah protect us from having munafiq attributes, that Allah protects us from shirik, that Allah would gather us with the siddiqin.

***

Allahu a'lam.

May I be forgiven for any mistakes/errors/omissions. I posted this because the shuyukh had asked those present at the majalis to convey the lessons to those who were absent.

[I hereby tawasul with a solehin like Habib Umar and his forefathers, that those who cast sihir on me in the past, present and future, will in return suffer from the ill effects which they and their accomplice have intended. I leave it to Allah Al Muntaqim for He is Most Fair in His reckoning and retribution. Pray through the blessings of the solehin that Allah will cure me, pardon me and elevate my status, as a result of the tests. Ameen.]
                   

"Tolong" | Open | Seashells

Bismillah.

So we learn, sometimes, some things, it's not just about finding them, but it's also about opening them.

Open -  even the sound of the word open carries a positive vibe, don't you think so? Oh by the way, when I was at a clinic this morning, I noticed four posters which have got five tolong on them. Tolong in the Malay language and in the context of the posters means please. Tolong also means help. Pronounce it like this: tow low-ng

I don't mean to poke fun at my own language but when I read all four posters with five tolong-s on them I thought the word sounded a little funny. Or was it just me being a lil sick today. LOL.

Having read all posters, I truly empathized with the doctor and her staffs because the posters sounded like a "cry for help" so that the patients and their companions would be more civic-minded.

Poster 1 says: Please [tolong] keep the clinic clean.

Poster 2 says: Please [tolong] write your name and ID number each time you visit.

Poster 3 says: Please [tolong] don't be noisy and please [tolong] be patient.

Poster 4 says: Please [tolong] mind your children's behavior.

They are really begging for cooperation there! But I guess, sometimes, people need to be told exactly what they should do. Like the poster below. It's a saying by the venerable Imam Ghazali which I did not know until a friend dreamed about it and related the story to me. He dreamed of an old lady quoting that words of wisdom. It was a good dream for him but let's not go into details.

It's telling us a basic thing like those notices at the clinic. That we should not only look for seashells but we must open them, cos there might be pearls inside. That the real purpose is to find pearls and not just stop at the seashells. That we have to take one step further, make one more effort - open.

May Allah Al Fattah open the door to beneficial knowledge for us all. May Allah open the door to goodness for us all. May Allah open our hearts to be a receptacle of His Light, Beauty and Wisdom.

Ameen.  

p/s
Tolong say a prayer for me : )
Know that, you [my dear genuine readers/friends] are counted in my duá.

Allahumma tawwil umurana
wa soh hih ajsadana
wa nawwir qulubana
wa tsabit imaanana
wa ahsin aqmalana
wa wassiq arzaqana
wa ilal khairi qaribna
wa 'anish sharri ab 'idna
waqdhi hawa ijana
fid deeni wa dunya wal akhirah
innaka ala kulli syai in qadir

O Allah, grant us a long life
make our body healthy
enlighten our hearts
strengthen our faith
broaden our provision
bring us near to goodness
keep us far from evil
fulfill all our wishes
pertaining to our religion, this world and the hereafter
for You are the Most Powerful over all matters

Ameen.

KL 25th October 2016
Happy that we have got a mosque in KL (Masjid Kampung Baru)
that displays a myriad of colors to match the light show at the KL Tower.
It's no doubt a shi'ar of Islam, that we are progressive,
open to new ideas and modern.
[Click to enlarge and spot a brightly lit mosque.
Yes, taking photos of the KL night scene is my favorite pastime.]

The newly refurbished Masjid Kampung Baru in KL
Am proud of my kampung (village) or rather city : )

Without prejudice | Abu Yazid Bistami

Bismillah.

The above is a partial quote from the 'King of the Gnostic' of Iran - Bayazid Bistami or Abu Yazid Bistami. How can it not be true? I don't know about you, but the more I reflect and internalize the statement the more goosebumps I get. LOL (nervous laugh that is!)

We came to this world while not being fully conscious of the Creator despite the fact that we had already made the covenant of Alastubirabbikum [Am I not your Lord?] way back. As we grow up, we gradually recognize His attributes and slowly learn to remember Him. Oftentimes we struggle to remember Him even though [the sweet fact is] He remembers us all along. He remembers us without prejudice. But we cannot say for certain that there wasn't a time when we doubted Him a little when our prayers didn't seem to get a response, as quickly as we wanted, in the way that we had hoped.

Anyhow, this is the full often quoted statement attributed to the well known Sufi Abu Yazid Bistami:

I made four mistakes in my preliminary steps in this way. 
I thought that I remember Him and I know Him 
and I love Him and I seek Him.

But when I reached Him, 
I saw that His remembrance of me 
preceded my remembrance of Him 
and His knowledge about me 
preceded my knowledge of Him 
and His love towards me 
was more ancient than my love towards Him 
and He sought me in order that I would begin to seek Him.

To think that His remembrance of you/me preceded your/my remembrance of Him, gives us believers abundant hope. That He remembers and will not forsake us - His creations. That His mercy prevails over His wrath. I think this alone should suffice for a believer, to know that "His remembrance of me preceded my remembrance of Him." Now, does anything else matter?   

I am reminded of this profound sayings of Bayazid when I saw a posting by Shaykh Allie Khalfe of Cape Town, about Abu Yazid and the dog. Let's re-publish it here so we remind ourselves of how terrible our internal prejudice is; how much pride we have; how easily we glorify ourselves and how we confidently discount people who, in our opinion, have strayed and fallen behind, people who are not in our "exclusive club".    

"One day, when the great saint and gnostic Abu Yazid Al-Bistami was walking through a street, suddenly a dog appeared, approaching him slowly. Being cautious and not wanting his clothes to be in contact with the dog, Abu Yazid pulled up his clothes. Unexpectedly, the dog was communicating to Abu Yazid with a voice like human. "If my fur is dry and accidentally comes into contact with your clothes, there is no need for you to have your clothes cleansed. However, if my skin happens to be wet, all you need to do is have your clothes cleansed the way God prescribed. But then the prejudice attitude inside you will not be washed away even if you use all the water obtained from seven rivers. The internal or spiritual sins are difficult to clean."

Abu Yazid said: "Dear dog, you are very intelligent. Please come and stay with me for a while."

"No we can't stay together as I'm being despised by humans while you are glorified in this world. Furthermore, I do not store any food for the next day while you store your needs for the whole year," replied the dog.

Hearing the words of wisdom from the dog, Abu Yazid whispered to himself: "If even a dog refuses to accompany me, am I eligible to be close to God and attend His functions? All the Praises be for God who has shown all the flaws in me and guiding human beings through the minor things."

MashaAllah, this is Abu Yazid speaking!

That's why, it saddens me and I'm sure it saddens you too, to hear about some of the khadam/assistants/volunteers of the shuyukh who act arrogantly towards the "general public" as if they are the "khawasul khawas" the elitist, just because they are close to the scholars, that they have got exclusive rights/access to them. 

Hmm....       

"If Allah loves a servant, He will grant three attributes that are the proofs of His love:

generosity like the generosity of the ocean;
favor like the favor of the Sun in its giving light;
and modesty like the modesty of the Earth." 

- Abu Yazid Bistami

Ref: 
https://islamictext.wordpress.com/2016/10/20/abu-yazid-al-bistami-and-the-dog/
http://naqshbandi.org/golden-chain/the-chain/tayfur-abu-yazid-al-bistami/

Be among those who are supported with a mighty support

Bismillah.

Bi-iznillah God Willing, this time next week, our much loved Habib Umar bin Hafiz will be in Kuala Lumpur at Muadz bin Jabbal Mosque. 

Imagine 44 years ago, when he was nine years old, he saw his father for the last time when the latter placed his shawl at a mosque before the Friday prayers and handed him the keys to their house. It was for the last time, because his father, Habib Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz was abducted by the communists who had control over Hadramawt at that time.

Habib Umar bin Hafiz began teaching at the age of 15 and continued to receive lessons as well. After the passing of his guru Habib Muhammad bin Alawi, he decided to migrate to the Hijaz but ended up in al-Bayda where he visited and studied with Habib Muhammad al-Haddar who was his late father's close friend. He was probably in his late teens then. 

Imagine the kind of life he chose to live, independent and with great resolve to pursue Islamic teachings, alone, separated from his mother and older brothers who were in Tarim. His other siblings were in Hijaz. He undertook hijrah all by himself, bringing with him 300 shillings, all by himself - physically - maybe, but you might imagine young Habib Umar being quietly fired up by the fighting spirits and legacy of his father whom he lost when he was only nine.

This 53 year old venerable preacher and caller of the Truth will be coming to Malaysia next week inShaAllah. Those who have attended his majalis before, it's little wonder to us that the heart blooms with delight just knowing that he is visiting, again.

Illustrated by: Ameen Jauhari
(As commissioned by Lisan al-Din, 
but we may have to do it again because it seems Habib Umar has shunned his glasses lately. 
He might have undergone a LASIK procedure?) 

In case you have yet to memorize this salawat which Habib Umar bin Hafiz had taught in conjunction with the arrival of Rabiul Awal last year.

Allahumma ya ni'mal mawla wa ya ni'mal nasir

salli wa salim 'adada 'ilmika

ala Sayyidina Muhammad

man ja altahu lana hirzan harizan

wa ala alihi wa sahbihi

wan surna bihi wal muslimina

bi asrari wa yan surakallahu nasran aziza 

O Allah, O Best of Protectors and Best of Supporters

bestow prayers and peace to the amount of Your knowledge

upon our Master Muhammad

the one You made for us an impregnable fortress

and upon his family and companions

and by him, support us and all Muslims

through the secrets of

"That Allah may support you with a mighty support."

اللَّهُمَّ يا نعْمَ المَوْلى ويا نعْمَ النَّصِير 

صَلِّ وسَلِّمْ عَدَدَ عِلْمِكَ على سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ 

مَنْ جَعَلْتَهُ لَنا حِرْزاً حَرِيزاً،

 و على آلِهِ و صَحْبِهِ وانْصُرْنا بِهِ والمُسْلِمينَ

 بِأَسْرَارِ — ويَنْصُرَكَ اللهُ نَصْراً عَزِي

      

Click the link below to read about Habib Umar and his brother's [Habib Masshur] steadfastness on their mission to study and spread knowledge of Islam, as related by Habib Ali Al Jifri on the blessed day of Muharram, three years ago.

http://muwasala.org/focusing-on-our-mission/

***
Wish you a wonderful Friday loaded with blessings!
Wish you a pleasant and productive weekend!

TGIT | You know Yuna?

Bismillah.

Thank God it's Thursday. TGIT.

Because it's October, I don't need to wait til Friday to chill. TGIF does not apply. That's because, praise be to Allah, work-wise, my team and I have delivered some great results already, so we can sort of rest on our laurels and unwind til the year ends. YaHuu!

Maghrib in KL - 12 October 2016

It's sheer delight to be able to see the KL Tower light show every night. The show last night was extra sensational thus I captured a video. But can't promise if it would get uploaded ever LOL.

Ahh...the things we all do to unwind.

I picked up the Elle Malaysia magazine because Yuna was on the cover. In case you didn't notice, she's an A-lister by birth. She's born as Yunalis. YunA-List. She's inherently A-List kind of person.

For the benefit of our foreign readers, Yuna is a Malaysian hijabi singer-songwriter who moved to the States five years ago. Her big talent and perseverance have enabled her to climb the music industry and song charts in the USA. She achieved that while managing hundreds if not thousands of criticisms from her own people - Malaysians. People hurled all kinds of names at her for her signature turban and for one incident involving Usher - partner for her latest hit song Crush. I am not keen to review the episode in detail or mention the ugly names they threw at her. Having read the article in the Elle Malaysia magazine, I thought she spoke up really well, she stood up for herself really really well this soon to be 30 year old lady who  has a degree in Legal Studies. She said: "I don't have time to think about the petty things that people say about me or try and tell me what to do." Yes girl!

Those who thought she's "rubbish" this that, they could be insecure, envious and/or emotionally broke. Yuna probably has more than a million dollars in her bank account. In a Finance mag interview, she was asked what she would do if she had a million, her reply was short and smart - she said she would make another million! I think, ironically, those negative people had picked on her because she's brilliant, brave and never apologetic about being who she is. And the same positive traits have brought her to places which many can only dream about. Yuna said in the Elle interview: "I came from being this very insecure girl to this other person. And now that I'm older, I really don't just give a shit anymore."

Yes girl! That's it! Let those self-righteous and envious critics shout until the cows come home. They probably think they're forever faultless and that they have secured a ticket to heaven. LOL. [BTW, to think that one has no sins, is in fact a sin.]  

You know Yuna? She's inspiring methinks.

"It's 2016, and it has to change. Because we can't live in this environment forever. Having people criticize us and telling us what to do when they have nothing to do with our lives." - Yunalis 

      

Smart girls, lean in!
"I feel a little rush, I think I've got a little crush on you.
I hope it's not too much..."

10 Muharram 1438 Hijri | Ashura Day is a day of generosity

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum.
Good morning folks.

I just wanted to be an early-bird today, enjoy sahur-time and be quick in sending you warm greetings on this special occasion - Ashura day. If you watched the video I posted yesterday, you might recall Habib Umar bin Hafiz speaking about the merits of observing Ashura Day and some of the recommended actions for the day.

Yes we are told to be generous to our family on this day - it's a day of generosity, says Habib Umar. But what is a mortal's generosity as compared to the Lord's generosity of offering to pardon a year of our sins and reward a day of fasting with an entire year of fasting; that He would gaze upon those who care to recite a thousand Al-Ikhlas and thereby reflect upon His attributes.

The Lord is offering us plenty of great bonus in return of one small deed. The Lord is willing to forgive all our sins with one repentance, whereas the mortals would exaggerate one misdeed of ours and forget the rest. And they do that while forgetting they too are being assessed by the Creator. So this is a day to glorify the Lord, for His assessments and rewards are all that matters.    

Praise be to Allah that we have come to this special day. May Allah grant us a long healthy life so we live to see many more Ashura days -  a day of victory as He did make victorious Prophet Musa, Yunus and Nuh (a.s). And Saidina Hussain too, because dying and meeting one's Lord for an elect servant of Allah, is indeed a victory as said Habib Umar: "Death for a penitent doer of good is a gift."

Allahu a'lam.

***

Pic credit: Muwasala.org

Welcoming Ashura Day 1438 Hijri

Bismillah

.

May Allah shower His unique bounties upon us on this special day.

May we benefit from the lessons and du'a from the venerable Habib Umar bin Hafiz.

Wasalamualaikum warahmatullah.



Video Credit: Muwasala.org

Prepping for the future | Write a will, I will

Bismillah.

When I wrote a posting on my Lasik surgery experience and the benefits of correcting one's vision through LASIK, I neither expected it to receive a huge number of hits nor create a big impact to anyone, but it did. Alhamdulillah. But this posting which I am about to write, I hope it would receive your attention and that you would consider acting upon it.

I have just met a consultant from a Bank Trustee, the person who will be writing my will, yes InShaAllah. Write a will, I will and I think you should too. I am of the view that one should not only write a will but also appoint an executor, if one cares about his/her loved ones.  

Because as a person, I feel writing a will is a sign of gratitude that Allah has given one some assets. That Allah has given you some understanding and realisation to not want to trouble your loved ones when you pass on.

As a dutiful daughter/sister, I feel the importance of having a "custody card" to hand to my family especially before travelling, especially before performing hajj. Why, so that they know I have written a will and appointed a professional executor at the bank I have been so loyal to. So that they will be able to retrieve my will and learn about my intentions and instructions. I learned this today: because I don't have a husband or a son, my mother and my siblings would be entitled to my assets. Write a will, I will because I feel responsible and thankful for Allah's bounties on me and because my late father raised me to be an educated person who is firm about articulating her thoughts.

It is wonderful that we are allowed to reserve one third of our assets for a non-beneficiary which ideally should be a worthy beneficiary such as the orphans. There is no need to give all to the rightful beneficiary because two-thirds is enough. And chances are the one-third for the worthy non-beneficiary could yield a handsome compound interest for you in akhira.

As a dutiful daughter, I don't want my mother to be un-informed or ill-informed about her rights towards me because I love her. Now, you should think about your loved ones too, should you return to the Lord sooner than them. Make it easier for them. Do not leave them puzzled. Do not burden them with the complexities of managing your assets and belongings. I think that's the least we could do if indeed we truly care about the people we care about.

The Budimas Charitable Foundation
supports many orphanage homes nationwide.
This one is in Penang.
- a worthy beneficiary for 1/3 of what you own! 

p/s

If any of you my close friends would like me to share more details about hibbah amanah and wasiat which I've learned from the trustee bank, do buzz me. Be smart. Be considerate, manage your belongings while you still can.

p/s

Look forward to making another hajj prep - engaging a personal Arabic/Quran tutor. 
: D InShaAllah

Reading pictures

Bismillah.

Wish I could impart some cheer to you, put a smile on your face, the least I could do to show how much you are appreciated.
[You know who you are. Sorry I still can't make my greetings unconditional for all, including haters cos I'm neither righteous nor self-righteous LOL]

Lucky that two buddies have been sharing some lovely photos from breathtaking Kiwi-Land and our most beloved city -  the burial site of Allah's most beloved - Madinah Al-Munawarah.

Sometimes, words lift us up. Sometimes, a picture like this makes us smile for it conveys unspoken sweetness so loud!

  

Sometimes, a hug makes us feel safe and cared for. Sometimes a picture like this makes our soul calm, revives any lost hope, that the person underneath that green dome deeply cares about us. That it's very easy to connect with him and connecting with him once, could bring glad tidings tenfold in return.

Lessons on Islam have never been so easily accessible as it is now but it's also true that many people who claim to be workers of the deen are asking for all kinds of aid in the name of the religion. Seeing the green dome makes me want to pour out all my burning questions and bewilderment about my faith.

One "religious person" blocked me on WA just because I did not promptly respond to his call for support for his "religious project". But I'm only a woman who has my own priorities and I decide to whom I shall respond. We all have the right to remain silent and/or decline, don't we? And wonder why do they only get in touch when they think my contributions could be useful for them? People like these make me want to have a husband so that they won't bother me directly LOL. Dare I make such a complain underneath that green dome! Still, I thank God for making me mature enough to not be bothered by some "interesting" characters be they Shaykh or no Shaykh. 

Thank You God for increasing me in knowledge a bit more, regarding salutations to the Prophet. It's something that we all need, in two departments at least: rizq and akhlak. Shuyukh, sinners, strugglers, everyone needs it.

Allahumma salli ala Saidina Muhammad
solatan tuwas si ú biha álainal arzak
wa tuhas sinu biha lanal akhlak
wa ála alihi wasohbihi wasalim

"O Lord by the blessings of Your Prophet
expand our provision and beautify our characters."

May Allah grant us the strength to recite this Salawat Tausiúl Arzaaq and may Allah enable us to benefit from it. Ameen.

May Allah decorate our path with that which is pleasing
to the eyes, mind and heart

May Allah make us reflect on this life and that which is waiting for us in the end. And that in life, it's OK to not please everybody! LOL.

Happy New Hijri Year 1st Muharram 1438H | 1st October 2016

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah

My dear respected visitors/readers
[You know who you are heh...heh...]

[Especially Aunty S who regards this space as her early morning cup of tea. How sweet of her. May Allah shower her and her loved ones with abundant grace and bounties. Ameen]

Wish yáll a happy new hijri year full of blessings. May Allah forgive us and accept any small deeds which might be worthy in His reckoning.

I had been busy working to meet some important deadlines that I almost missed this important date in the Islamic calendar. In fact I was still kinda disoriented having just arrived in Penang this morning. And not having had proper rest. Still Alhamdullilah I managed to arrive early for the Maal Hijrah event at Penang State Mosque.

Felt so very proud that the majlis was graced by my neighbors - two great Gelugorians - the Penang Mufti led the Yaasin recital, tahlil and prayers; and a popular daié - Imam Muda Asyraf gave a refreshing tazkirah full of new facts. The stories he related were far from cliche. I will try to summarize his lessons tomorrow InShaAllah.

Of course...that honorable lady in purple prayer garment is the wife of Penang's Governor. She had no air whatsoever, mashaAllah!     

All ears - Imam Muda Asyraf giving an insightful tazkirah

Penang Governor's wife - the honorable Toh Puan
sitting in halaqah (circle) for Yaasin recital

The majlis ended with dinner - delicious Tomato Rice - much to my delight! And I spotted a Niqabi carrying  a tote bag with a loaded message.

Queuing for Tomato Rice. 

Yes! Let's husnuzon!
Imam Muda Asyraf said Allah has the right to select anyone for Jannah
even if he/she was a sinner in the eyes of people - at the point of death.

See ya tomorrow : )