Arabian Nights.

_ After hardship, there is ease. SubhanAllah.

He [swt] always provides for His slaves.

The same sun which rose in Londontown, sets in Mecca tonight. Glory be to Allah; Lord of the Worlds.

Words.

Everything happens for a reason. A reason that might be so unknown to us. I'm okay with helping others and making them smile again, but i kinda suck at taking my own advice. I've always tried to stand strong and front it out, but it's been a while now that i've had my guard down. I've learnt it's okay to be weak at times and it's okay to cry too.

I saw Mama after such a long time. & to see him so weak and so fragile, barely being able to eat or speak, it broke a piece of my heart. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is meant to be keeping him better, but it's slowly eating away at him. And it hurts to sit back and not be able to do anything. :(

Ya Rabb, grant Mama strength and keep him well. Ameen.

Results are coming out soon and i pray that Allah [swt] makes it a success for us all. We all tried our best and i hope results reflect our struggle and our passion to succeed too. Allahumma Ameen.

The Earth Is A Place Of Prostration.

This made me smile.

Jabir bin Abdullah narrates that the Messenger of Allah
(May Allah’s peace be upon him and his progeny) said:

"The earth has been made a place of prostration for

me, and a place to perform Tayammum. Thus, my

followers can pray wherever (in any lawful place)

they like, when the time of prayer is due."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.429]

Struggle. And a leap for change.

They always said that life would be a constant struggle, but no one ever told me that it would be this hard. Nobody ever said that all the smiles are equated with tears and that sometimes, some hurdles will be so high, that it'll seem almost impossible to jump over them. People told me that university will be the best three years of my life, but I'd do anything to relive my college years over and over again. People also said 3rd year isn't as tough as the first two years in uni, but for me, 3rd year is double the hardship and triple the stress of the first two years. Exam period; and cue depression mode and lovespot season.

But soon inshaAllah, this year is about to end.

---
As this moment nears; and as another journey begins to end, I feel afraid to step out into the world. The real world. I live between hope and fear. As contradictory as it may appear to be, it seems logical to me: fear that I won't be able to achieve all that I want, but hope that I'll overcome these hardships and come out much stronger.
Someone pointed out to me that I secure myself within a 'box'. A box where I've selectively placed all my hopes, dreams, fears and people. And perhaps that person was right; because I admit that I'm not a fan of change and transition. But to be able to cross this narrow road and get to the other side, I need to accept that change is inevitable and maybe even for the better. So today, I smile and raise my head above it all. Here's to change.
One final exam is fast approaching and the concept of revision scares me. But I know, that if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. And not long ago, I was the one claiming that failure isn't in my dictionary, it's not even an option.
I'm gonna give this one last shot. I'm gonna load this gun and then fire these bullets straight at my target. I'm gonna try my best.

"Tie your camel, and leave the rest to Allah (swt)."

The Secret of Life.

Snoopy told me to keep looking up; that's the secret of life. Then I realised all the good and all the bad moments in life are meaningful if you have true friends to share them with. And life is nothing without a few struggles, but with faith, we'll always get by.

Dad.

Dad.

It’s been a few months now that i look at my Dad with such happiness and sadness at the same time. It was during a trip to Southend in Summer 2010, that i learnt old age was creeping up with Dad. We were snapping away taking pictures at the pier when i asked Dad to stand by the side so i could take a picture of him, when the wind blew his hair and i realised Dad was slowly getting bald. And it hit me; my Dad’s getting old. I remember standing so still for a few seconds; the concept of Dad being old was something so strange to me; but today, as he hits 50, i feel so proud to be his daughter.

When i look back at the years that passed us by, at my childhood, i think i can truly say that for me, my Dad has been my hero. He’s always been the one who’s given me more than I could ever ask for; and he’s always been the one who made things happen. I’m way too blessed to have such a person in my life, and more importantly, as my Dad.

To think of Dad being old, is like thinking of the impossible. For me, Dad’s always been the man to look up to; who’s always protected me and kept me safe, but to think that one day i’ll be the one protecting Dad and keeping him safe scares me. I’m not scared of not looking after him, but of not doing it the right way; the best way; the way he kept me protected all those years.

Today, and for the years to come Dad – my heart, my love and my dua’s are always yours.

Happy 50^th Birthday, Daddy.

xo

What They Don't Have...

- The years pass by, but the pain doesn't heal. What they have lost, our hearts will never feel.

I wake up in the morning complaining about the sun catching my eye, my Palestinian brothers and sisters wake up wondering if today’s the day they’re gonna die.

I go to the kitchen and think about what to eat; they look around and think “this is another day of starvation we’ve got to beat”.

I don’t listen to my parents, I don’t let their voices get heard, the children of Palestine whisper each sentence as if it could be their last word.

I cry over petty arguments, I cry if I get told off, they don’t want their tears to fall but they still cry in hope.

Minutes pass by and I don’t thank Allah for every breath, while they beg not to lose theirs in this terrible death.

While I lie down, planning another day again, my Palestinian brothers and sisters live another 24 hours in pain.

They weep for mercy, for forgiveness and for victory they plead, so why can’t we take a minute and do just one good deed?

Oh Palestine, don’t weep, stay calm, have faith in Allah [swt] for He shall shelter you from harm.

[Please make dua for the people in Gaza, while they suffer, we are living in comfort. We throw abuse at Isreal, we attend demonstrations and protests showing how we feel about the situation, but is this really helping? What matters more is our dua's, as sincere as they can be. We need to turn to Allah [swt] and inshaAllah He shall ease their pain and suffering and grant them the highest in Jannah. Ameen.]

High Hopes Against Time.

I reminisce the smiles and the jokes we've shared, and tears fall as I remember the good times. To this day, it feels so nice to know that even if we haven't seen each other for days or months, the bond we have between us never changes with time. Time and distance only strengthens what we share; it only tightens the sisterhood we have. I feel lucky to have you guys by my side, and I hope to share a million and one more moments with you all right here.

As we begin to complete one of our journeys, I close my eyes with a smile, with the comfort of knowing that no matter what, we've got each other. Let's enjoy what's left of our education and aim to strive for nothing but the best. With the guidance of Allah, I have the highest hopes that we will make it, and we will make it to the top.

I've realised, that sometimes it's okay to trip, and it's even more okay to stumble and fall, because we have each other to reach out a hand and help us get back up. It's true when they say you're here in this world alone, but at the end of the day, without those around us, we wouldn't be who we are today. And when I look at you girls, I feel proud to call you my best friends.

Here's to many more 'breaks in between the struggles of university' and here's to taking more pictures in the toilets! :D

- Nazira, Nuresa, Hamida, Farhana; nothing but love. xo

Twenty.

20. Twenty. TwEnTy. Two-Zero...

Nah, writing it any different won't make it sound any better. Omgosh. That's two whole decades. I feel pretty old right now.

It's always times like these when i feel really nostalgic and sad. These long summer days, standing in my mum's room; gazing out of the window and watching the night pass me by. That's how it used to be. Back in the old house, where memories still remain forever. I miss that place like mad. It's been just over three years since we moved here yet sometimes when im just sitting down on my bed or daydreaming, i still feel as though im back in our old house again. I had some of my bestest birthdays in that house.

Now, looking back, twenty years of my life have passed me by. Twenty years. I was talking to Mum the other day, asking her what exactly have i got to show for these years, and that's when i realised i have a lot more than i could ever think to ask for. Everything else i gather along the way are just bonuses. :)

Some things go without saying, so with a smile on my face and contentment in my heart; 20, as they say, is when life begins.

Politics: A Mug's Game.

There are times when silence has the loudest voice.

Indeed. Silence speaks volumes and sometimes, it's more about what people don't say; rather than what they do say. There's too much happening in the world right now and it's easy to listen to what the media tells us, but what matters the most is what they don't tell us.

I'm not a huge fan of politics, mainly because i don't understand it, but the latest movements around us disgust me. I think politics is a mug's game and the world would be a better place without it; but to introduce, establish and adhere to the rules of life, man is assumed to be political. I understand this political man to be an abstract man; the one who conforms to what he is told and does what he is told rather than to act based on his morals. This is exactly what i believe has led to the state of the world as it is. Because if man knew his true moral rights and obligations, then people wouldn't be fighting; they wouldn't be shooting; they wouldn't be bad-mouthing one another and they most certainly wouldn't be murdering the hearts and souls of those around us.

They always said don't expect anything, then you won't be left disappointed. But is it too much to ask when we pray for a bit of civilisation? Just to pass one another in the street with the exchanging of a smile and a salaam; instead of a dirty look and vulgar words?

This world has turned into a pretty ugly place and to change what's around us, we need to change what's within us. For now though, thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their lives due to this mess that is created in the name of politics and international relations. And i question, what 'relations' exactly?

May the hearts of those gone from this world find peace in the HereAfter inshaAllah and may our Lord [swt] grant them the best of His Jannah. Ameen.