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  • My Abode of Peace

    Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but never our hearts. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr)

  • Solace

    When nothing can comfort you, His words can. His words always will.

  • Some days, the view looks scary. Trust Him. He is the Best of Planners.

  • Showers of blessing.

    Clouds come floating in to my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky. (Tagore)

  • Hop and Jump

    For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be.(John Connolly)

❤

Aug 15, 2013
I was in grade 5 or 6 and we were in India for holidays. While passing through Calicut we came across the Government Dental College building and my dad just randomly remarked, "You might study there! "

Me : " Dentist !? I will NEVER be a dentist. "

7 years later, I joined dentistry.

7 years hence, I love and enjoy my chosen field of profession.

Dad's know of your potential way before you find it out yourself ! ❤ ❤

(May Allah give our parents the best in this world and the best in the hereafter Akhira - Ameen )

To share or not to share... !?

Aug 13, 2013


When we get a promotion at our job/get engaged/ pass a difficult exam with flying colours, the first thing that most of us do is turn to cyber-world to update on Facebook or tweet about it. Well, here is a small advice from Sheikh Omar Suleiman (Day 23 of his Ramadan Resolution series) regarding our constant urge to update publicly about our private lives, usually for validation through "likes" and "retweets".



Day 23- (Before You Share)


You know that feeling when something amazing happens to you and you cant wait to share it with the world? Learn to wait. Here’s why:

1. When any good news came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) or if a calamity had been averted, he would immediately fall in prostration (sajdatul shukr) and thank Allah for it. This is a beautiful sunnah that should be practiced all the time and not just for major occasions like graduations, new homes, etc.

2. Take a few moments to really deeply say al hamdulila from the depths of your heart. That will be a form of maintaining that blessing as Allah will see your sincere gratitude.

3. Some of the scholars say that one of the reasons Allah
did not allow Zakariyya (alayhis salam) to speak for 3 days except for words of praise was to bestow a greater appreciation of the blessing upon him. Al Baghawi (ra) said that is because sometimes when you speak about your blessings to others immediately, you lose yourself in your excitement.
So from now on when something good happens to you, hold off on the phone call, text, email, or status. Say takbeer, go into prostration, say subhana rabbi al a’ala the way you do in your prostration in prayer, AND add a personal note of dua and thanks to Allah from the depths of your heart before you rise.

Gems from the Qur'an.

Aug 12, 2013
The following excerpt is from an article posted by Imam Khalid Latif on HuffingtonPost. I found it hugely inspiring and hence sharing it here.
Various verses from the Holy Qur'an which talks of good conduct and character. (Not an exhaustive and complete list)
1. Respect and honor all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job and so on. [17/70]
2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception. [33/70]
3. Choose the best words to speak, and say them in the best possible way. [17/53, 2/83]
4. Do not shout. Speak politely, keeping your voice low. [31/19]
5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious. [22/30]
6. Do not confound truth with falsehood. [2/42]
7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart. [3/167]
8. Speak in a civilized manner, in a language that is recognized by the society and is commonly used. [4/5]
9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative. [6/152]
10. Do not be a bragger or boaster. [31/18]
11. Do not talk or do anything vain [23/3, 28/55]
12. Do not participate in anything paltry or contemptible. If you pass near such a futile play, then pass by with dignity [25/72]
13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt. [6/151].
14. If unintentionally any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously. [3/134].
15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people. [31/18]
16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit. [17/37, 31/18]
17. Be moderate in thy pace. [31/19]
18. Walk with humility and sedateness. [25/63]
19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and salacious stares. [24/30-31, 40/19].
20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep your mouth closed. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences. [24/15-16]
21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favorable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter. Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence. [24/12-13]
22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you harm someone in ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did. [49/6]
23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and reasoning) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning. [17/36].
24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer! Advance me in knowledge." [20:114]
25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another. [49/10].
26. Do not make a mockery of others or ridicule others. [49/11]
27. Do not defame others. [49/11]
28. Do not insult others by nicknames. [49/11]
29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your communal energy. [49/12]
30. Spy not upon one another. [49/12]
31. Do not backbite one another. [49/12]
32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security, or offers a courteous greeting to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. [4/86]
33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the inhabitants. [24/61]
34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission; and then greet the inhabitants and wish them a life of blessing, purity and joy. [24/27]
35. Treat kindly:
-Your parents
-Relatives
-The orphans
-And those who have been left alone in society [4/36]
36. Take care of:
-The needy
-The disabled
-Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs
-And those whose businesses have stalled
-And those who have lost their jobs. [4/36]
37. Treat kindly:
-Your related neighbors, and unrelated neighbors.
-Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. [4/36]
38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition. [4/36]
39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [4/36]
40. Do not count what you have given to others, nor afflict them with reminders of your generosity. [2/262].
41. Do not expect a return for your good behavior, not even thanks. [76/9]
42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in evil and bad matters. [5/2]
43. Do not try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues. [53/32]
44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself, then preach. [2/44]
45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct others]. [66/6]
46. Pardon gracefully anyone who commits a bad deed out of ignorance, and then repents and amends [6/54, 3/134]
47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to people. [3/134]
48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. Reason with them most decently. [16/125]
49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement [6/70]
50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage in some other conversation. [4/140]
51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed. [4/54]
52. In your collective life, make room for others. [58/11]
53. When invited to dine, go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host. [33/53]
54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation. [7/31].
55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly. [17/26]
56. Fulfill your promises and commitments. [17/34]
57. Keep yourself clean. [9/108, 4/43, 5/6].
58. Dress in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character from inside out. [7/26]
59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavor. [29/17, 2/188]
60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions. [2/188]

Ramadan Reminders

Jul 24, 2013
Assalamualaikum. There are so may valuable Ramadan reminders and tafseers being uploaded... Decided on these few. Sharing it here, so that any one of you can benefit and for my later reference. Insha Allah


1) Tafseer of Surah Taha by Sheikh Abdul Nasir J - approx 1 hour (uploaded on @MuslimMatters site)

2) Pearls of Peace lecture by Mufti Menk - approx 30 minutes 
Link : http://www.muslimcentralmedia.com/lecture-tags/mufti-menk-ramadan-2013-cape-town/


3) Quranic gems by Nouman Ali Khan - around 3 to 5 minutes - uploaded on Quran Weekly Youtube channel
Link : http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV7aA2UxRf3SHyxRoeYb9TQ


4) Reminders from Quran & Sunnah by Sheikh Abu Eesa & Sheikh Omar Suleiman - approx 5 minutes (uploaded on their FB/twitter pages)
Links : 
https://www.facebook.com/imamomarsuleiman?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://juliherman.wordpress.com/ramadan-gems/
http://alternativeentertainment.wordpress.com/

5) General Ramadan Reflections by Imam Khalid Latif- read of 5 mins (uploaded on huffingtonpost)
Link : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/khalid-latif
So there, less than 2 hours of valuable and informative content.

ABOVE all this - Qur'an, Qur'an, Qur'an. Dhikr. Istighfar and heartfelt duas. May Allah accept it from us.

Book talk

Feb 13, 2013
My good twitter pal just inspired me to join on Good reads yesterday. Going through the site gave me the urge to start reading again in a dedicated manner.Here is my Goodreads profile.

I came across this site a little while ago. So now, with all the inspiration, planning to put myself on a challenge of reading (atleast) 50 books in 2013. In sha Allah.

I am currently reading  : A message in a bottle by Nicholas Sparks (Yeah, yeah light read ;p)


Change.

Feb 5, 2013
... and so I change the blog title : Querencia.

A lovely Spanish word with the meaning : A place where you derive your strength from, where you feel at home and a place you are your most authentic self.

Irrespective of our differences, don't we all desire the same things ?

Let go, move on.

Feb 3, 2013
The first on the To-do list on my blog is to change the name. Made it around 5 years back. It sounds quite teenage -ish  now. (Personal Pensieve - Harry potter inspired name ! :D)

That left me thinking. 5 years on, I have evolved and changed as a person, both personally and in the spiritual sense. At the end of the day, change is the only permanent aspect of our life. Any change that makes us a better person and in turn helps to bring us closer to our Lord is a welcome difference.

Yesterday, I met with around 7 of my classmates from my school. In that 2 of them were my closest buddies in school. In between all the catching up, laughter and just general banter, I realized how much my priorities has changed now. How my likes and interests differs from what it was once. How what I enjoyed once as a conversation topic does not entice me anymore. Different career paths, stronger realization to fulfill my religious duties, different environments in the past 6-7 years all might have contributed to the variation in thinking and perceptions, among st us all, though we are the same bunch of girls who grew up together for 10 years.

Again, made me to reflect on to the aspect of 'letting go'. Friends who were once an important part of our life cannot always remain so. The path of life meanders. Being on the same path just so as to maintain a friendship might not always be in our best interest as an individual. It is alright to let go, to move on.

Sometimes we are the ones who leave other's behind. Sometimes we are the ones left behind. It is not due to a deficiency in our character or theirs. Just that our role in their life is over. Thinking against a person who stopped being in regular contact as before is not always right. They might be on a different page of life than us. That does not make them less of a friend. In one dimension of time, they might have been our dear friend. Hard feelings against a friend will only make us forget the good times spent together.

Cherish the memories of the past friendship. Strengthen the bonds of present. Open your eyes for friendships to be formed in the future.

There are many more new people to be met ! There are many more friendships to be forged !

PS : 'Letting go' does not apply to the closest of friends. In that case, disturb them as much as you can ! ;)