Sunday, October 25, 2009

Bedding collections

Nothing beats a bad/ rough day than having a good rest in a warm and cozy bed with a nice set of bedding, wouldn't you agree?

I especially loved the vintage bedding collections, nothing that's too shimmery, simple, elegant and yet, modest. Picture above shows the lovely set of bedding that I especially would love to have! I'm quite amazed with Kylie Minogue's home bedding collection, I mean, we all knew her as a singer, right? :D

More pics can be obtained from here.

Off to planning dreaming right now. cheerio! :P




^_^

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

breathe in..breathe out..

it's less than a month now.

chill.

u'll be fine, insha Allah :)

Monday, June 22, 2009

To a non-muslim women

Today I finally have the opportunity to surf online
after
one week of field trip in Perak (ohh, that was
definitely
one of my unforgettable experience)..and as I was
surfing
I found this poem titled 'To a non-muslim women'...
I admit that I have a 'thing' on reading poem,
poetry never
seems to bore me. Be it about life, love..though
I have to admit
I am not good with writing
(as you can see from my previous posts, I never
write any 'long-winded
bunga2 type'
of writing, mine's always straight to the point.
I guess I am so used
to write experimental methods, facts, figures etc.
over the years
majoring in science field..
regardless, I do hope that you will enjoy reading
this Islamic poem
that I think will somewhat put thought in the minds
of non-muslim
women; as the saying
goes do not judge a book by its cover. I am proud
to be a Muslim.
Alhamdulillah :)


To A Non-Muslim Woman

When you look at me
All that you can see
is the scarf that covers my hair
My words you can't hear
because you're too full of fear,
mouth gaping, all you do is stare

You think it's not my choice
in your own "liberation" rejoice.
You think I'm uneducated,
trapped, oppressed and subjugated,
You're so thankful that you're free.

But non-Muslim woman you've got it wrong
You're the weak and I'm the strong.
For I've rejected the trap of man.
Fancy clothes - low neck, short skirt
those are devices for pain and hurt.
I'm not falling for that little plan.

I'm a person with ideas and thought.
I'm not for sale, I can't be bought.
I'm me - not a fancy toy,
I won't decorate anyone's arm,
nor be promoted for my charm.
There is more to be than playing coy.

Living life as a balancing game - mother,
daughter, wife, nurse, cleaner, cook, lover
and still bring home a wage.
Who thought up this modern "freedom"?
Where man can love'em and man can leave'em.
This is not free, but life in a cage.
Always jumping to a male agenda
competing on his terms.
No job share, no creche facilities,
no feeding and nappy changing amenities
No time off for menstrual pain,
"hormones" they laugh "what a shame"
No equal pay equal skill
your job they can always fill.
No promotion unless you're sterilised.
No promotion unless you're sexually terrorised.
And this is liberation?

Non-Muslim woman you can have your life.
Mine - it has less strife.
I cover and I get respected,
surely that's to be expected,
for I won't demean the feminine,
I won't live to male criterion,
I dance to my own tune
and I hope you see this very soon.
For your own sake - wake up and use your sight.
Are you so sure that you are right?

From a Muslim Woman


taken from
http://www.jannah.org/articles/poems.html#5

oh,and why the word 'women' (as if they were meant to
'woo' men). think
about it.


Friday, April 17, 2009

well of course

Last thursday I went to FRIM with my supervisor, alhamdulillah I managed to meet up with Prof E.Soepadmo, an ex-lecturer from my uni. He is 74 yrs old..we had a good time chatting, all three of us along with a frim officer went for lunch at the malay tea house. We talked and prof made some jokes, reminiscing those days in uni.. It was a good place to chill, the ambience is just nice...well, for me at least until I went up to the counter...it was horrifying, I saw a number of ants (big ones) crawling inside the container of local delicacies/'kuih muih'...I couldn't understand why can't they maintain the cleanliness of the place.

It was as simple as keeping it closed all the time. But well of course, 'some' Malaysians are ignorant about hygiene. It is ironic..it is such a nice place to relax, and everything even the presentation of the place is without doubt, deserve a 5 star rating, but the most simple little things (cleanliness) is taken for granted. With the price that they're charging, I really hope they would be aware of this. Sayang kerana nampak ramai foreigner and even our local people come here for their lunch. I am not condemning, but I am fussy when it comes to food and hygiene. Shouldn't we all be?

It is sad that sometimes our local restaurants does not maintain the cleanliness of their shops; admitting they're muslims, but the very simple act of cleanliness constantly reminded by our beloved Prophet is being neglected. I would be more than happy if the owner was there, then I would have politely inform her. Well of course it was a nice place to destress, just don't order the kuih muih. ;p

Thursday, April 2, 2009

an interesting conversation...

A convesation for Muslim sisters:

"I'm so tired."


"Tired of what?"

"Of all these people judging me."

"Who judged you?"

"Like that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab."



"Oh, hijab and music! The mother of all topics!"

"Yeah! I listen to music without hijab…haha!"

"Maybe she was just giving you advice."

"I don't need her advice. I know my religion. Can`t she mind her own business?"

"Maybe you misunderstood. She was just being nice."

"Keeping out of my business, that would be nice..."

"But it's her duty to encourage you do to good."

"Trust me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean `good` ?"

"Well, wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do."

"Says who?"

"It's in the Qur'an, isn't it?"

"Yes. She did quote me something."

"She said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur'an."

"Yes, but it's not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more important."

"True. But big things start with small things."

"That's a good point, but what you wear is not important. What's important is to have a good healthy heart."

"What you wear is not important?"

"That's what I said."

"Then why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?"

"What do you mean?"

"You spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on fixing your hair and low-carb dieting."

"So?"

"So, your appearance IS important."

"No. I said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion."

"If it's not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy Qur'an?"

"You know I can't follow all that's in Qur'an."

"You mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it's OK?"

"Yes. God is forgiving."

"God is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes."

"Says who?"

"Says the same book that tells you to cover."

"But I don't like hijab, it limits my freedom."

"But the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?!

What`s your definition of freedom anyway?"

"Freedom is in doing whatever you like to do."

"No. Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do."


"Look! I've seen so many people who don't wear hijab and are nice people, and so many who wearhijab and are bad people."

"So what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be alcoholics? You made a stupid point."

"I don't want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I'm OK the way I am without hijab."

"Then you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God."

"You don't get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!"

"So all these people with hijab never get married?!"

"Okay! What if I get married and my husband doesn't like it? And wants me to remove it?"

"What if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!"

"That's irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime."

"Disobeying your Creator is not a crime?"

"But then who would hire me?"

"A company that respects people for who they are."

"Not after 9-11"

"Yes. After 9-11. Don't you know about Hanan who just got into med school?

And the other one, what was her name, the girl who always wore
a white hijab…ummm…"

"Yasmeen?"

"Yes. Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE."

"Why do you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?"

"Why do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"In fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood.

But your short sleeves, tight pants…"

"That's called `fashion`, you live in a cave orsomething? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control
women."

"Really? I did not know men could control women by hijab."

"Yes. That's what it is."

"What about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?"

"Well, that's different."

"What difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?"

"Right, but…"

"But fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set
you free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?! Give me a break!"

"Wait, let me finish, I was saying…"

"Saying what? You think that men control women by hijab?"

"Yes."

"Specifically how?"

"By telling women how and what to wear, dummy!"

"Doesn't TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be `attractive'?"

"Of course, it's fashion."

"Isn't that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?"

[Silence]

"Not just controlling you, but also controlling the market."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover
of the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products."

"I don't get it. What does hijab have to do with products."

"It has everything to do with that. Don't you see? Hijab is a threat to consumerism,
women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that nonsense and focus on your soul, not on
your looks, and do not worry what men think of your looks."

"Like I don't have to buy hijab? Isn't hijab a product?"

"Yes, it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated consumerism."

"Stop lecturing me! I WILL NOT WEAR HIJAB!

It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society ... Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!"

"Fine. Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day."

"Fine."

"Fine."

[Silence]

"Shut up and I don't want to
hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!"

[Silence]

She stared at the mirror,
tired of arguing with herself all this time
.

Successful enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions triumphant
in victory on the matter, and a final modern decision accepted by the society - but rejected by the Faith:

"Yes!" - to curls on the hair - "No!" - to hijab!

"And he(/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!"

[Holy Quran 91:10]

Subhana'Allah!!!

"Nay! You
prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and
more lasting."


Holy Quran:
87:16-17]


"You are the best
community (Ummah) raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah."

(taken from http://www.al-ahkam.net/home/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=146930)

(this article is taken from Yusuf Estes www.islamtomorrow.com)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Being a Muslim

"This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion." (5:3)

Alhamdulillah, there's not a day in my life have I not feel thankful
to be a born Muslim. However, I must say that my knowledge
in Islam is little. I took for granted most of the time,and there are
questions in my mind which I
long for an explanation, questions which
I am afraid of asking, for it might be answered with a stern warning.
Fortunately, I have been blessed to be able
to open up my mind and my heart to learn more about Islam, the beauty of Islam,
the logical reasoning of Islam, and the many teachings of Islam when I became a
friend to my fiance; we were in our Convocation week; he was still a
non Muslim back then, asking qustions about Islam, which, like many other Muslims,
I tend to conclusively not give the answer. Somehow rather, he made me reflect about those questions,
which I myself had never thought of and some which I myself long for an explanation.
Now, alhamdulillah I must say that I truly am thankful to
him, because he made me realise about many wonderful and amazing things in Islam
which I have often taken for granted. Everyday I learn more, going to usrah as many usrah
as possible (alhamdulillah, I do actually enjoy going to the classes). I am truly blessed
and syukur to be able to deepen my appreciation towards Islam. Although at some point in my life I
feel that life is ordinary, but learning more about Islam made me feel proud of being
a Muslim.
Islam is indeed, the perfect religion.


Lessons learnt. Never ignore questions that lingers in your head, you are free to ask,
free to accept and free to follow as long as it is not against the teachings of Quraan
and Sunnah :)

May Allah guide us all, Insya Allah.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Why do we fall? So we can LEARN to pick ourselves up..

In life we sometimes lament, we complain, we feel that life is unfair, we feel angry and unsatisfied about the issues in our life thats just too much for us to cope. It is unlikely that we soon realise how blessed we are, how syukur we would be to Allah the all Forgiving, all Knowing for every challenges in our life comes with a hikmah, insha Allah.

It doesn't matter how deep we fall, how hollow our heart is, how hurt our feelings are as long as we strive to be better, we kept being thankful to Allah, doa and believe in Him, insya Allah we will always be on the journey to the righteous path.

Perseverance is truly one of the greatest action that a Muslim/Muslimah can do. With it, insya Allah we will be able to cope with our daily 'challenges' and 'risks'. Striving hard to persevere means that we put our outmost effort to please Allah by doing the best that we could, everyday.

"Those who patiently persevere, will truly receive a reward without measure!" (39:10)

Alhamdullilah, it is clear how Allah state the reward for those who constantly striving to persevere, may He guide us all to the straight path, insya Allah.

To me, the poem below sums up just the right amount on how we should be thankful to Him always..

Forgive Me - Ahmed Bukhatir

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
And wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she smiled.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it `d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
You see," he said, "I `m blind"
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine.

I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew. He couldn't hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I `d go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine.
I have blessed indeed, the world is mine

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Promoting IIS Friendly Comparative Religion (FCR) class

Assalamualaikum! I’d like to invite you to join this very unique and interesting FCR class by Islam Information and Services (IIS) in Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur. I went to the class last year, it was held during the weekends (so basically ANYONE be it a revert or student or a Muslim who wants to learn about Islam; in a distinctive way, can join!). Speakers’ bro. Shah Kirit Kokulai Govindji, bro. Lim Jooi Soon and bro. Fauzi talks about the vast religion in Malaysia (there’s even a slot for Bible study; it’s an eye opener), and it’s pretty cool how they present the beauty of Islam (Insya Allah you will feel more thankful and syukur to be a Muslim/ Muslimah). It’s tremendously splendid, here’s a chance for you to go to meet Dr. Zakir Naik's ‘student’, a very heart warming bro. Shah. Also, there are usrah classes (which will be held on Thursday, once every two weeks) and an usrah on Sunday continuously. However, you have to attend the FCR classes before you are to go to these usrah classes. So go on, my brothers and sisters, join this interesting class, it’s worth every cent, you won’t regret it, insya Allah.

Details can be obtained through IIS website: http://www.iis.org.my/

Saturday, March 7, 2009

assalamualaikum :)

Hello and salam! This is my first post, I dont really know what to write, hehee.. Insya Allah I will write more, sorry to spend few minutes of your time just to load this page...I'll post something interesting sooon! Insya Allah! :D