The Creator of Order | Friends for life | Spinach & Potato

Bismillah.

Good morning, Ohayou Gozaimasu folks,
our genuine, loyal visitors : )

The picture used in the poster below is courtesy of one of our learned readers. It's taken from her house. Isn't the view breathtaking? The essence of the duá below is also from her, a pious and highly intellectual lady. All I did was put them together and touch up a bit. Pray Allah keeps inspiring us and gives us the ability to develop original contents beautifully. Ameen.

Yesterday a long time friend sent me a poster that reads:

''Who was your best friend when you were 8 years old? Tag them if you're still friends!"

MashaAllah! I have got a bunch of friends in that category. Alhamdulillah.

And you, genuine loyal readers who have become my friends, pray our friendship will last until Jannah. Ameen.

Have a relaxing and pleasant Sunday.

Wish yáll a November full of laughter.

Remember that verse in the Quran, it is He who makes us laugh and cry.

May November be a wonderful month before we approach the closing of 2015.

***

Ahh before I pen off, here's something to inspire you. Who said you can't poke through a potato using a straw? I did it at a training recently. The trainer said drinking "potato juice" could boost our confidence. So he threw us a challenge - poke a potato using a straw by stabbing into it just once. 

Anyway, the training is about Horenso. It is a Japanese word meaning spinach. We learned about "spinach" for organization/business which can also be applicable in our day-to-day living. We all need energy and the good vitamins derived from spinach, don't we? 

HoRenSo is comprised of three key principles:

- Hokoku (reporting)

- Renraku (info sharing)

- Sodan (consulting)

I hope this blog will continue to be a good platform for Renraku. 

Haaittt!

With the right technique, focus and confidence, you too can do this.

Set-the-day | Masjid Hussain Seremban 2

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum folks,

Good Morning! Let's set-the-day in the right mood. Let's set the tone right. It's Saturday all right.

A typical Saturday for me is about express Spring cleaning at Exa Publishing office while waiting for my team to arrive. Because I can't do it quick enough, it's common for them to see their unpaid Boss vacuum-ing or mopping the floor. It's the least I could do to honor them because they are istiqamah (regular) in reading Kitab Barakat Makkiyah every morning as soon as they arrive.

Shouldn't say ''unpaid" because there's NO beneficial/good deed that escapes the eyes of the Master Accountant who is the ultimate Paymaster - Allah subhanahu wa taala. He will provide. He will reward accordingly. Bi-iznillah.

Looks like I'm gonna be late again cos I am stealing time to blog and listening to a Malay song. LOL.

Now will the non-Malay readers excuse me for a minute.

Sayangku...tahukah kau di dalam hatiku ini

tersimpan perasaan cinta nan suci

kau bunga

ingin ku sunting mu menjadi milik ku

lantas ku abadikan dalam jiwa ku

Hah hah....that's an old Malay love song ; )

***

Anyway, I'm supposed to be writing about Masjid Hussain and some reflections from the dawra on Kitab As-Syamail which I had attended last weekend. But let's first talk about Masjid Hussain.

Masjid Hussain in Seremban 2, Malaysia, in my eyes, is gorgeous because it is beautiful in its simplicity. Wish the architect and interior designer would come across this posting so they'll know their hardwork and attention to details, are noticed and appreciated. Perhaps they had carried out their jobs with taqwa, cos I could feel it.

I noticed the color scheme chosen yaqni white is not just for the exterior. The outer walls and the dome are all in seamless white almost like the stunning Masjid Quba in Madinah. White has also been chosen for notice board frames, cupboards, fans, Bose speakers, chairs (appreciate that the chairs for those who pray in sitting position, are not the usual colorful plastic chairs or the random small folded stools, but are big and sturdy and in matching white). I noticed and appreciate that the carpet is plain without busy distracting patterns. The red carpet looks sophisticated and not some cheap-looking red; the lines for marking the saf are thin, thus avoid the confusion most people have on where exactly to place their heels. 

Yes I noticed all the little things : )

Also noticed the mimbar is not that high; that the marble chosen for the mihrab is in subtle grey and wall decors in black and gold contrast enhance the simple choices made in the overall interior design. The main chandelier is not overly grand and looks easy to maintain; the pendant light along the corridor and the matching wall lights are also pretty neat. The Resource Center and Madrasah are well equipped, also with white furniture fittings. 

I fell in love with Masjid Hussain at the first sight. Upon entering and noticing all the small details mentioned above, I love it even more. Also appreciate the clever layout and that it is wheelchair friendly; the fact that they have brought the outdoor inside for the women's wudhu area; that there is a proper room for telekung (prayer garments) and not just place them in cupboards in the same prayer area hence avoid the mess. 

Was also impressed that the built-in shelves for Al-Quran and Tafsir were properly measured so 19 copies of the Quran and 20 Tafsir could fit neatly in the shelves. [Yes, I counted!] As though they even thought about the exact Quran and Tafsir to buy and know the thickness of the books, mashaAllah!

There's something special about the mosque. It's not as magnificent as the world-famous mosques abroad, but I am of the view that Masjid Hussain's simplicity truly defines its beauty. 

The fact that I have had a wonderful experience learning hadith for three days in a row at the mosque, makes me love Masjid Hussain even more.

People say ''I left my heart in San Francisco" and I agree with that, having visited the charming city countless times during my student days. But now I will say: I left my heart at Masjid Hussain : )

Dawra Kitab As-Syamail at Masjid Hussain
with Shaykh Mohammed Daniel
23 - 25 Oct 2015

White folding chairs at Masjid Hussain

White furniture and fittings all over Masjid Hussain

Resource Center at Masjid Hussain
Can't help but noticed the banquet chairs chosen are off-white.
They could have chosen the commonly found red/blue,
but they took the trouble to stick to the color scheme.  

Corridor at Masjid Hussain

I encourage all of you to set a date and go visit Masjid Hussain in Seremban 2.

p/s

No, I'm not marrying Pak Hussain's son. LOL.

Wish yáll a pleasant Saturday.

Am going back to singing that Malay song:
Sayangku...tahukah kau di dalam hatiku ini...
tersimpan perasaan cinta nan suci...

: D

Not meant to be | Meant to be

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum folks,

On a lighter note, before we go melodramatic : D it amazes me that there's a Muslim soda brand from Austria that contains Habatus Sauda. It's called Sultan Cola. I discovered it at Muslim Biz Forum today. Tasted good methinks. What a unique and surprising combo: Austria + Muslim product + Soda + Black seeds. Who would have thought?

***

You might have read the previous posting about my participation at a Dawra on Kitab As-Syamail by Shaykh Mohammed Abu Bakar Daniel last weekend. Shaykh Daniel is a British who migrated to Syria some 14 years ago and spent his life travelling and studying. He has obtained ijazah from over 400 scholars. As the founders of Cordoba Academy UK, Shaykh Daniel and his wife have, for over the past six years, taught 6000 students worldwide. The Shaykh is by far the most accessible scholar I have ever known.

His students who graduated from the dawra have the privilege of being in the same Whatsapp group as him. Can you believe that? I never imagined being in the same Whatsapp group with a shaykh, let alone a reputable scholar who is super busy globe trotting. He responds to our questions and concerns fairly quickly, in a warm friendly manner. MashaAllah.

Masjid Hussain, Seremban 2

Prior to the dawra which started on Friday afternoon at Masjid Hussain in Seremban 2 (one and a half hour drive south of KL) I happened to be in Seremban (neighboring township) for work purposes. Yes Seremban and Seremban 2 are twin towns. No, we do not have KL 2, in case you're wondering. 

What I am trying to get at is that Allah is Ar-Rahim Al-Wadud. He has to send me to Seremban for work or it might have been inconvenient for me to attend the dawra. Weak people like me need an extra push you see. God knows I need extra help. So the Divine plan was: Send her to work in Seremban on Wed, Thu and Fri morning, put her up at a cozy hotel and then on Fri afternoon, all she needs to do is drive for 20 minutes to get to Masjid Hussain and get some good education. LOL.

Allah is ever Generous and Compassionate.
I first bought Kitab As-Syamail in April 2013 when I attended a dawra at a masjid in KL. I had bought an extra copy for an acquaintance I met virtually. I thought as someone who seemed to be on the same path, that person would appreciate it. Thus I wrote a little something on the front page of the kitab and signed it. And then opportunity arose for me to meet that person abroad. So I gladly brought the kitab along with several other books as gifts because we are book lovers. But somehow... that person didn't turn up. So I had to carry all the valuable books back to KL.

To cut the story short, I eventually got to meet the person whom I was supposed to meet overseas, but sadly this person did not bother about the sanctified kitab I wanted to gift him. Therefore, with a heavy heart I tore the page on which I had written and signed. This took place in 2013.

When I learned about the Dawra on Kitab As-Shamail, I thought this was a good opportunity to give away that extra kitab. I was planning to pass it to the organizer as gift for anyone who might need it, but I didn't, as I rushed to join the majlis. So there it was, kept in my bag, as I sat underneath those pretty chandeliers at Masjid Hussain together with the other ladies. And then all of a sudden, a woman turned toward me inquiring about the kitab, whispering. ''Where did you get it? It's sold out at the Registration Counter."

"Wait..." I replied as I dug my tote bag looking for that rather ''historic" copy - the Kitab As-Syamail which flew out of KL with me in an aeroplane and back.

I quickly flipped the hardcover and pointed out the torn page to the lady, "Do you mind this?"
"No, not at all" she said with a look of disbelief on her face. Perhaps, not expecting the offer.
"Then please take it, Bismillah..."
"How much?" she asked.
"No...no need...please...Bismillah take it," I gestured.

The expression on the lady's face, to me, was priceless. It's as though the words gratitude and relief were written on her forehead and cheeks. Relieved that she got the very thing she needed and wanted. Her whole face lit up. She then fell into silence and choked up with emotions before turning to me saying: "Could you please write your name so I can make a prayer for you?"

MashaAllah tabarakallah! That brief meaningful exchange...in an instant, wiped off all the hurt and pain in my heart - the fact that the kitab did not get to the person it was intended for; that I had carried it so far; the frustration, thinking how can a person not appreciate a precious book about the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam?!

Allah....

Allah Ar-Rahim is He. When He inflicts upon your fragile heart a deep wound which is starting to become an old scar, He heals you with the best balm there can be, unexpectedly. There it was, underneath the mosque dome, at a sacred setting, in a blessed majlis where ahadith were being recited, on a blessed Ashura Day...there, He the Most Kind and Compassionate Lord, healed me. Subhanallah!


Subahanallah! Walhamdulillah!
Wa lailaha illallah Wallahu Akbar!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Heavenly Gifts

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah my dearest genuine loyal readers,

Your blogger friend, Miss Eza is extremely tired. She has been having a super-packed and mentally challenging week. Just got back at her hotel, legs cramped etc. but then she saw an unexpected message from one long time loyal reader Sister Zaleha. MashaAllah tabarakallah. 

My dear Sister Zaleha, I will make a special prayer for you at this intensive majlis taálim I've been attending InshaAllah. [I have already made duá for all other close buddies/visitors - you know who you are.]

I'm gathering whatever energy that's left, to post this shout-out just because of you, ma dear sister.

   

It's been quite a while since I fell in love at first sight with a masjid. The first time was in 1997 when I first saw the spectacular Masjid Nabawi in Madinah. The grandeur of the blessed mosque took my breath away as I stepped down from the bus, stepped onto the sacred land and looked up at the imposing beauty. It was a serene breezy night. The wind was cold. It was 2 o'çlock in the morning.

Yesterday was the third time (maybe fourth) that I fell in love at first sight with a fair beauty. Would be wonderful to own a home near this masjid - Masjid Hussain.

Part 2:
Hi again, folks. It's almost midnight. Am back from the masjid feeling super-blessed and super-elated because I have successfully completed an intensive class on As-Syamail Al-Muhammadiah. Sat underneath those pretty chandeliers for two and a half days and listened to Shaykh Mohammed Abu Bakr Daniel read out all 399 hadith in the kitab compiled by Imam Tirmizi. In addition to ijazah for the As-Syamail, the generous shaykh also granted ijazah for Al-Musalsalat Al-Asharat. [Hope I got the terms right]. It was my first experience being given "ijazah" for using tasbih, handshake (yes handshake or musafaha); mushabaka (two people joining their palms together); eating tamar and drinking water; Surah Fatihah and the duá Prophet taught Muadz bin Jabal, among others.

Guess what? We ladies got to act out these traditions from the Shaykh's wife who is a shaykha herself! We shook her hand, took a tasbih and did the mushabaka with the blessed woman. MashaAllah!

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah by the grace of Allah, with that I have officially become a student of Cordoba Academy founded by both Shaykh Mohammed Abu Bakr Daniel and his learned wife.

Will post a pic of my cert soon InshaAllah. Shaykha wrote it herself, mind you. I am shaykha-struck, pardon me because I have never met a woman-scholar before. She travels extensively together with Shaykh Daniel and has studied with 250 shuyukh! MashaAllah tabarakallah. Yet, she was so unassuming and approachable.

***

I am deeply humbled, the fact that Allah has given me a second chance at reading the As-Syamail. The first attempt in April 2013 did not count because it was organized in too large a class, I couldn't remember anything significant and we did not complete it properly. Since then, the book was left idle and hopeless on my shelf.

This two-and-a-half day intensive class on the As-Syamail was special because the class was not too big so we could understand the shaykh's words pretty well. Shaykh Daniel spoke clearly and at times, fast, as it's typical of muhaddithin. His lecture was interspersed with good advice and examples. And a bit of British humor! LOL.

Alfu alfu Alhamdulillah for the opportunity. I would not trade it for the world. It goes to show, if Allah wishes to honor us, it will come to be. Never mind those people who try to bring us down.

Oh one point I noted from the As-Syamail. The universal definition of an ideal man being "tall, dark and handsome" may not be applicable anymore because the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam, yaqni the most beautiful creation of Allah was described as "fair, handsome and of medium height."
: )

Anyways, I'll write about the beautiful Masjid Hussain where the dawra was held, more about my wonderful ijazah experiences and more takeaways from the As-Syamail  in future postings InshaAllah.

Heavenly gifts. Alhamdulillah.
Proclaim the bounties of your Lord!
That's Shaykha's writing on my kitab
and she wrote my name on the cert : )
Wouldn't trade these for the world.
Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah. 

Put your foot down

Bismillah.

Hi folks,

Am on CREATive mode. Created this poster today, for you, just for sharing.

p/s

That's me in my Birkenstock sandals and Monki socks at H&M. Not going to pretend I'm not into cool stuffs cos it's worldly. LOL. Let's keep the world at our feet or carry it in our hands. And reserve the heart for that which is utterly valuable and worthwhile.

"The heavens and the earth cannot contain Me,
but the heart of a true believer can."
- Hadith Qudsi.

Prayer parcels \ Gift-ed

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

You know you are blessed when on the day of the new hijri year, first thing in the morning as you wake up, a new year greeting arrived from an honorable shaykh. MashaAllah.

You know you are blessed when on a beautiful evening you received some very meaningful words of encouragement. Like those in the pic below ; )

You know you are blessed when your bank delivered a big present - a branded luggage! Yes! After decades of banking with the same financial institution, I finally got an unexpected gift from my bank. Unbelievable!

You know you are blessed when you received a phone call from some lovely souls living 10,000 miles away.

You know you are blessed when you learn something exciting each day.

You know you are blessed when you are gifted with brilliant ideas every other day.

You know you are blessed when people you have never met extend their support to you.

You know you are blessed when pious people offered their special prayers for you.

Kareem is Allah. Wadud is Allah.

Subhan is Allah.

Subhanallah.

May Allah bless abundantly, a quintillion times, all the kind-hearted people in my life. Ameen.

Your sista as ever,
-Exa


p/s
Have a sunny Sunday, people : )

Dictionary Day \ 100 tasawuf terms compiled by Shaykh Abdul Qadir as-Sufi

Bismillah.

Good afternoon folks.
Assalamualaikum,

Did you know 16th October is known as Dictionary Day? Two hundred fifty seven years ago, on 16 Oct 1758, Mr. Webster was born. Does that ring a bell? Yes, Merriam-Webster and all other American dictionaries named after him.      

Please bear with me. This is a Saturday afternoon rambling. I'm not sure if I'm feeling inspired or otherwise, having returned from Malaysia's National Library. It is a stone's throw away from my crib. But [of course] I drove there. LOL.

Hmm...libraries are supposed to be inspiring. Enough said. Let's not talk about the not so positive aspects. Anyhow, three take-away points I wish to mention.

• I learned a bit on the history of animation in Japan from a reference book which weighs around 5 kg. LOL.

• There's a smart-looking and literally smart library within the National Library, sponsored by Samsung.

Samsung Smart Library at Malaysia's National Library

• I wish I had discovered this publication by McGraw Hill in 1997 when I struggled like mad getting my house built. 

How To Plan, Contract And Build Your Own Home

Speaking of dictionary, you should go look for a small dictionary of 100 words related to tasawuf, compiled by Shaykh Abdul Qadir As-Sufi. It's called "The Hundred Steps". Let's see, how many words look familiar to you.

1. Tasawuf - sufism/science of journey to the King
2. Shariat - conformity on syahadah
3. Tariqat - the path between shariat and haqiqat
4. Hakikat - the realities
5. Adab - spiritual courtesy/sincere good manners
6. Istiqama - being straight/practice the words, acts and states of the Prophet
7. Suluk - science of inward elements
8. Yaqin - certainty
9. Faqir - the one who turns away from the futile search of this world
10. Tawba - turning away from wrong action
11. Wara' - scrupulousness
12. Zuhud - doing without
13. Tawakkul - reliance
14. Sabar - patience
15. Shukur - giving thanks
16. Taqwa - guarding oneself from wrong actions
17. Ikhlas - pure unadulterated genuineness
18. Sidq - truthfulness
19. Murid - one who has stripped from his own will
20. Ubudiya - slavehood
21. Zikir - invocation of Allah
22. Fikir - reflection
23. Himma - aspiration
24. Nafs - the first level of experience of the human animal
25. Ruh - spirit
26. Sirr - secret
27. Mulk - the kingdom of solid forms
28. Malakut - the kingdom of unseen forms
29. Jabarut - the kingdom of power
30. Khauf - fear
31. Raja' - hope
32. Rida' - serene content
33. Hiss - sensory
34. Ma'na - meaning
35. Lubb - core
36. Ishara - indication
37. Waqt - moment
38. Hal - state
39. Maqam - station
40. Mawqif - stopping place
41. Warid - what descends on the heart
42. Futuwwa - nobility
43. Qabd - constriction
44. Basth - expansion
45. Wajid - first degree of ecstasy
46. Wujud - third degree of ecstasy
47. Jadhb - attraction
48. Lawa'ih - outward gleams
49. Lawami' - gleams
50. Tawali' - splendours
51. Shawq - desire
52. Dhawq - tasting
53. Shurb - the drink
54. Sukr - drunkenness/intoxication
55. Khamr - wine
56. Ka's - the cup
57. Sahwa - sobriety
58. Farq - separation
59. Jam' - gatheredness
60. Jam' al-Jam' - gatheredness of gatheredness
61. Tawhid - unity/affirmation of unity
62. Tafrid - isolation
63. Af'al - the acts of Allah
64. Sifat - the attributes of Allah
65. Dhat - the essence of Allah
66. Ma'rifa - gnostic
67. Isma al-adham - the Supreme Name
68. Ghurba - exile
69. Khalwa - retreat
70. Ghuzla - retirement
71. Simsima - sesame/gnosis which is too fine to express
72. Tajalli - manifestastion
73. Takhalli - relinquishment
74. Al-'Ama - the great mist
75. Muraqaba - watching
76. Mushahada - witnessing
77. Wilaya - friendship with Allah/acceptance
78. Fana' - annihilation in Allah
79. Bala - trial
80. Baqa' - going-on in Allah
81. Sahq - pulverisation
82. Nasut - manhood
83. Lahut - godhood
84. Rahamut - sourcehood
85. Mahabba - love
86. Qurb - nearness
87. Taraqqi - rising
88. Lisan - tongue/that by which divine eloquence occurs to the ears of the gnostics
89. Tamkin - fixity
90. Talwin - change
91. Afrad - individuals
92. Nuqaba - the chiefs
93. Nujaba - the nobles
94. Abdal - the substitutes
95. Awtad - the four pillars
96. Two Imams - two imams; one on the right of the Ghawth in the Malakut, the other one on his left in the Mulk
97. Qutb - the axis/pole
98. Sukun - stillness
99. Tajrid - stripping away
100. Kamal - perfect

 Allahu 'alam.
Rabbi zidni ilma war zuqni fahma.

_________
The Hundred Steps is published by Madinah Press Kuala Lumpur