Beauty.

I just finished reading, Fawa'id,  A collection of Wise Sayings by Imam Ibn Al Qayyim Rahimahullah.  

The book is filled with wisdom after wisdom. Every sentence will make us ponder. After one reading of the book, I think I might have absorbed only 0.001 % of the wise thoughts in the book. I intend to read it again, InshaAllah.  

There is one sentence which took my breath away, caught me off-guard.  

"The beauty that is contained in the inner and the outer elements of this worldly life and the Hereafter, comes from the effect of His creation. What then, is the extend of the beauty of the Creator?"  

Subhana Allah. Subhana Allah.  

We are swayed by beauty. We are enthralled by the magnificent chromatic symphony of the sunrise. We are left speechless when we witness the lush green gardens with streams flowing by. The snow-filled landscapes or the heavenly downpour of rain makes us to stop for a moment, just to observe the aesthetic treat to our eyes. This is the beauty of this world. So how will the beauty of the Hereafter be?  

Indeed, if this is the beauty of the created and the creations, what will the beauty of The Creator be?

How I long to see the Beauty of My Lord. How I long to hear the word of 'Enter' !  

Ya Allah make us amongst your righteous slaves.
Ya Allah make us amongst the inhabitants of the Garden with nearness to You.

1434--> 1435

At the beginning of last Muharram, I remember tweeting, '1434, be good to me.'

In 1434,

I have tried my level best in strengthening my relationship with Allah. (May Allah keep us firm on His Deen)

I visited the Holy Lands after a gap of around 16 years. Had continously made dua to bless me to visit.

I completed my dental licensing in Doha after a wait of around 8 months.

I got my first ever job. It was nothing like I expected it to be, still Alhamdulilah, an experience of it's own.

I finally, with all certainty closed off certain uncertainty.  Alhamdulilah.  Some times, we have to just make a strong decision, Allah helps us with the rest.

I completely cut off myself from certain 'friendships'.Dont know why I am writing this as an achievement, but for me , personally it is an achievement. I cannot keep myself away from certain people even though I know with all my heart it is a toxic friendship, thinking it will hurt them. Now, I have learnt, other's happiness should not be at the expense of one's own mental peace and contentment.

By towards the end of the year, slowly learning, from obstacles and failures, what I truly want for myself from life.

There is a continuous dua I have been making throughout. It isn't His destined time yet.

On this last day of Dhul Hijjah,  1434, I wish and pray for a year more in:

Earning His pleasure.
Opportunities to be closer to Him.
Sakina, Mawaddha and Rahma.
Personal contentment.
Professional success.
Opportunity to do Master's Program.
Righteous friends.
Protection from Hamm, Hazan , Ajaz and Khasl.
Read more, sleep less.
Live more and fully each day.

Tweet Tweet !

Tweets about Umrah- 2013.

One of my major duas of Ramadan 1432 & 1433 was asking Allah to bless me to return to the Holy cities soon.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

..and tomorrow, I shall leave for a quick trip. In sha Allah :)
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

..and this gives me immense hope and happiness that all my duas shall be answered at it due time, similarly. Alhamdulilah
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

Every believer who utters the Shahadah has an inclination towards visiting the Ka'abah. A universal feeling shared !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

..a result of the dua of Prophet Ibrahim AS being answered by Allah.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

"Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

...So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful" (14:37)
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 5, 2013

A busy Friday. Masjid Haram. The light at the door turns red. One hefty police at the door to control the crowd, all wanting to get in
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 17, 2013

Certain people seem to be not obeying the Officer's commands. The officer gets frustrated. But no word of contempt pass from his lips.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 17, 2013

All he utters is '' lā ʾilāha ʾillā l-Lāh ''
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 17, 2013

In Tawaf. Huge crowd. Rush and pushing. Except near one particular man. He was automatically given space by everyone, as he moved forward.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 19, 2013

Then I noticed the brown long stick and closed eyes. He was blind. Allah was protecting and guiding him !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 19, 2013

His blindness did not deter him from making the journey and doing the Tawaf around the Holy Kaabah ! Subhana Allah
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 19, 2013

Highight of bday this year was being able to pray all 5 Salaat at the Masjid al Haram. #umrahstories
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 19, 2013

Really sad to see when you stand in the courtyard outside Masjid Al Haram&see people giving more importance to Clock Tower than the Kaabah !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Though the building was created as a landmark for the town to be seen from as far as possible, yet....
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

..and the mountains of Makkah stand as a better landmark for the town than any man made building.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Another thing that made me irritated was the number of people taking photos& videos while In Tawaf & Sai'.
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

When did doing Umrah & visiting the Masjid become a tourist culture ?
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Destroys the Khushoo' of the place & also becomes a burden for others who are trying to concentrate deeply !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

But whatsoever is the outside condition, seeing the Kaabah, for the first time especially (or just about everytime) takes your breath away !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Sitting in the Mataaf area (for ladies), in front of the Kaabah with mom during the Pre-Maghrib time. Bliss ! Alhamdulilah
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Never thought I would be having the opportunity to undertake this journey again with my parents. But did. Alhamdulilah !
— Shaz (@iihahs) March 23, 2013

Monosyllablic

My prayer for this year :

• Faith
• Joy
• Stability
• Success
• Love
• Direction
• Opportunities
• Travel
• People
• Knowledge
• Hope

Simple pleasures

I find happiness in ...

• Lying on my warm bed on a cold winter night.
• Mom bringing a hot cup of ginger-tea while I am down with illness.
• Niece snuggling in my hand and going off to sleep.
• Brother coming home for the weekend & then the house is all "noisy"
• Good morning post from friend in Australia when it's only 2 AM here.
• Reading the same book over and over again.
• A friend randomly messaging & making a dua.
• Friend - "Before I go for Umrah, give me your dua list"
• A cold night's silence being broken by the laughter of children playing outside.
• Dad quietly going to masjid for Fajr so as not wake up the baby in the house.
• Reaching back the same weight that I was while in school. Jeans/salwars becoming loose ;)
• Brother bringing gifts from Jaipur -a earring & small hand held mirror.
• Snuggling warm in my bed & watching Friends or Gilmore Girls, episode after episode.
• Learning Tafsir of a Chapter from a Sheikh far away in Texas.
• Listening to stories from the Seerah from a scholar in Zimbawe.
• Retorting to/getting replied to every tweet with a quick witted answer.
• Whatsapp ;)
• Taking an early morning ride through Doha Corniche.
• Reading a "Thoughts Catalog" article which perfectly describes my situation

Eid Blessing !

This blog has always been a reflection of the extremes of my emotions - happiness or sadness !

...and , so I jot down here the exhilarating feeling of the past few days. No words can ever do justice to completely comprehend the depth of what I feel now, but then I shall try.

The past few days again teaches me : Every prayer gets answered at the most perfect of times, as and when, willed by Allah. Alhamdulilah.

I became an aunt to a beautiful baby girl born in the wee morning hours of the day of Eid al Adha. ( Dhul Hijjah 10 1433/ October 26th 2012). Alhamdulilah Ya Rabb.

Alhamdulilah, sister and baby are doing fine :-)

A blessing so tiny in her size yet has already captured all our hearts. A blessing for us to turn back to Him to say the word  of Shukr for His cloak of Rahma , always on our family. A blessing where we have already fully enveloped and embraced another new person into our family and our lives, as though she has always been a part of us, all this while. A blessing whom we have loved even before she was born.

For me, personally, a blessing to always remind myself, to never lose hope. No tears go unseen by the Almighty.

I know, I have made dua for this particular blessing in the early morning hours in Tahajjud, during the time I break my fast, in the nights of Ramadan, while I travel, while it rains, in the evening hours on a friday - every occasion where we have been promised our duas will get answered... & I know, every member of my family has done the same. Alhamdulilah, a million times , for our prayers being answered.

There comes a time in every family, when the kids have finished school, left for college or got married and a silence descends. A grandchild changes the entire dynamic of the family and brings in a whole lot of ''welcomed noise'' :-)

To my baby niece : I shall forever remind you how much of hope you brought to me at a time when I thought I shall have none anymore. I could sit all day gazing at your peaceful sleeping face.

May Allah bless you with the best in this world and the next.
May He make you, a coolness of your parent's eyes.
May He make you a blessed member of Our Ummah who helps in carrying forward the flag of our Deen
May He keep you protected,always - Ameen

...and, alhamdulilah, since you are blessed with your dad's good looks, I pray that you are blessed with your mom's intelligence ;) - Ameen        

( Ma sha Allah, Tabaraka Allah )


Sometimes, photographs can never really capture the entire moment. Words start failing. Yet, they are the moments truly lived.

...& One day, Insha'allah!

Haven't you noticed,many a times,we think when we get that perfect score on a test,get the latest gadget,be back with our family, or meet our better half,that the sorrow will fade away, that we will become happy again?

But also haven't u seen, even when we 'procure' these worldly joys,a sorrows lingers somewhere,a melancholy strikes deep,quite often,unexplainable?

Check out the video & see if it explains atleast a little of the answers to the above questions.