#17 recent huge impact in my life

Messaging technology within these gadgets has made a huge impact in my life recently. Needless to say, it's actually peculiar to realize how easy I can be reconnected to the long lost friend from the past, how all the wise words this friend sent to me could give me new spirit and encouragement, and how I unexpectedly found that sincerity does still exist in so many extents. :)

Dear God,
Please strengthen me to perceive my weaknesses
Make me brave to face my own self when I'm dither,
tough in defeat and still humble in victory

Dear God,
Give me comprehension that understanding myself,
the essence of my creation and existence in this perishable world are the basis of all truest conceptions.
Lead me in the waves of challenges in life so I could stand upright in the middle of hurricane assault.   
Guide me to be a grateful person who shares virtue with others.
And that's the incredible success of the world.

#16 Father of Soil

Shrine of Ali bin Abi Thalib 

Saiyidina Ali AS was not only a sahaba loved so much by Rasullullah (PBUH) but also an extraordinaty human being whose knowledge like the ocean, fluency of his tounge was matchless as an expert in literature and speech, in addition to a hero that no one can deny his reliability among the lines of spelled heroes. The first male believer in Islam, the Prophet’s standard-bearer in battle, the Door of the City of Knowledge, the most judicious of the Companions, and the "Possessor of a wise heart and inquiring tongue.

As a loved-most friend who is brave, Saiyidina Ali was never behind in any war both large and small made by the Prophet Muhammad. He had an important role in the famous battle of Badr, at that time he was a strong and handsome young man who was still in the 20s. In that battle, the Prophet has been handed the banner of war to Saiyidina Ali for the first time.where he was performing his duties in the war with distinction at all. After the war was over, the companions of the Prophet did not found him among them, when they wondered, suddenly he appeared with Ali, then the Prophet said, "actually I was behind you for treating wounds in Ali's stomach". From this incident, it can be seen just how great love of the Prophet to Ali and the enormity of the sacrifice of Ali in upholding the glory of religion Islam.

This is one of Ali's sayings narrated by Abu Nu'aym with his chains:

From `Abd Khayr: "Goodness does not consist in having much property and children, but in doing many good deeds, increasing your gentle character, and adorning yourself before people with the worship of your Lord. Then, if you do well, glorify Allah; if you do ill, ask forgiveness of Him. There is no good in the world except for two types of people: someone who sins and then follows up with repentence, and someone who races to do good deeds. What is done in Godwariness is never little, and how can something be little if accepted by Allah?"

 I am currently reading some books about him. So as for me, he is very inspiring.

* further references here, here, here and here.

#15 what I want to do before I die

  Visiting Makkah to do Hajj pilgrimage. Insya Allah. Amin. :)

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#14 i could never imagine my life without you, mom!

#13 The Legend of The Beatles

 

My lifetime favourite band that I always love! 

This is a box of cassette collections we had in my house which was collected by my brothers.

And what about you? :)

#12 Favorite Memory

Dear friends, today I post a picture of my favourite memory and please take a look at the picture of me and my brothers. :) It was taken at about 15 years ago in front of a stupa, in Borobudur temple, Magelang, Central Java.

 And just in case you want to know why I consider this as a favourite memory of mine, it is because for me, the red dress I wore was the best dress I've ever had. I feel so pretty in it! :D Yet another reason is that Borobudur always reminds me back to my childhood's holiday atmosphere when our late father took us to every new place during our school break. I hope I will be able to visit it again soon :)

#11 I Hate Jakarta's Traffic Jam

This is the first thing popped up in my mind when talking about something I hate.

 

Still can't believe that us, its citizens are patient and tough enough to face this (at least) twice a day.

Every. Single. Day!

*image source

Pass a Third

So, friends.. we have done a third first part of the 30 day photo challenge! Alhamdulillah all went well, at this point I am so happy because I got so many new sisters over here! How cool is that, Sha? your initial idea successfully works. :) Another important things that also make me flattered are when I was bestowed some awards by these nice sisters! Bunch of thanks to Syiera, Sara, and Blue Pearl! Thank you so much for the appreciation, lovely ladies. I love you all. Thank you for making me feel so lucky. :D

and let's now reveal another seven things of me.. hmm
I love to laugh.. a lot.
I go to the cinema alone, sometimes.
I wont let anyone brings me down when I can bring myself up.
I run away from people who tend to give me bad influence.. who tend to make me worse.
I have never committed to any romantic relationship with any man before, and won't have one either unless I already tightened the knot with that chosen one (InsyaAllah). :D
I try to kill my fears by challenging myself to face and pass through that fears.
I am still learning more about my deen, and the only reason for all efforts I do is to make me become a better person. :)

Anywayyyy... another happiness that lightened me is last weekend's road trippin' to southwest part of Java island with toughest girl friends! :) Here are some pictures!

 Thank you birthday girl for bringing us to your home town. Girls, you all rockin'! :)

#10 Most Treasured Item

My backpack is the most treasured item of mine. It was a birthday present back in 2009 from my girlfriends. Ever since, this item has accompanied me wherever I go. Even when I went abroad to attend a business meeting together with my manager (who brought a suitcase).

It also has witnessed and learned lessons from all things happened throughout the journeys I've made. I hope I could see many more places with this backpack. amiiin :)

#9 she has gotten the most of me

Starting as colleague from the office, this girl by all the chances then became a very lovely best friend with whom I share most of my thoughts on pride and prejudice and everything. :D

#8 My Heroine

Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles

 

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#7 With the Silliest

Please let me introduce you to two persons I do the silliest things with. They might already have been famous here in my blog if we go back to some postings in 2009. We've been friends since 2007 and there were always silly things we did, always. lol.

#6 A Picture that Makes Me Laugh

Neither me or my friends could stop laughing when this photo was uploaded in facebook account of the photographer. I don't exactly remember what my friend and I were actually doing here, but the caption given was "karaoke session.. ~~" So we probably were singing (with that expression??) hahaha. At that moment, we discussed about Chinese TV Series "White Snake Legend" (the first video here), and while we were trying to sing the soundtrack, we got captured.

Oh wowww.. I still can't believe that I've ever made that expression on my face! :D

#5 Something I Love

 

So there is this new teak-wood bookshelves in our living room where I put my currently-reading books on it. It gets messy easily so we have to dust it every once a while. I really love this part of the house because I can sit at a long seat near the bookshelves reading reading and reading for the whole day. :D 

Do you have any favorite places in your house?:)

p.s Please pardon the photo's low quality, I took it with my phone's camera.

#4 I'd Love to Do This Again

Banana boating! :) Oh, could we go there one more time within this year, please?

#3 Favorite Show's Cast

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Secret Agent Miss Oh or Call of the Country is a Korean drama series I watched back in 2010. It was recommended by my friend who is a person behind a website about Korean dramas, movies, and stars. I am not a good reviewer like her though, so if you're interested to know more about the drama please kindly see the summaries here. :)

At that time, I was not so into drama, but what made me finally sit in front of  the TV screen watching this series was because I felt curious when my friend said that the character of Agent Oh Hana has reminded her of me. Oh am I that careless, candid, money-oriented and tumultuous? lol. But hmm, somehow I should admit that my friend was more or less true! :D That's how then I think I love this cast the most.

#2 Longest Closest One

 

What else I could ever have longer than this? Yes, this is a picture of me and the people I have been closest with the longest; my inner circle. :)

#1 Hello Fifteen Facts

 

(1) I live in Indonesia, an archipelago country with over 17,000 islands scattered throughout its boundaries. And so they said, it is a nation-state with the largest Muslim-majority population in the world.

(2) My parents were originally Sumatrans, but I spent most of my lifetime growing up in dense Java island.

(3) Due to my late father's career demands, my family had to move from a town to another town for approximately, 6 times.

(4) I have two brothers; an elder brother and a younger brother. I was born a year after my mother gave birth to my elder brother, and later my younger brother was born a week before my 1st birthday.

(5) I already said "I want to be an architect!" to my father since I was in kindergarten, can you believe me?

(6) And yes, I ended up learning architecture in university, when my mother insisted that I should be a doctor, like her.

(7) My biggest love for things would be bestowed to books! I always crave for all kinds of books, both from international and local writers. I read at least 30 pages a day. 

(8) I am happy to see new places. New people. New smiles. New friends.

(9) Mathematics and English are my favorite subjects. Good combination, right? lol

(10) My colleagues say that no matter how huge effort I make to appear mature, I won't be looked like one. Haha. 

(11) Direct and straightforward. That's how actually I am. Some said that as a person I behave too pragmatic, while in my part it's about being realistic.

(12) I have special interest to Indonesia proverb; beautiful and wise words truly they are. 

(13) I am a sleepyhead.

(14) Have once learned photograph in college, but didn't manage to deeply continue learning it, because (Ehm!) I would rather like to be photographed than being a person behind the camera. lol

(15) I share almost every single thing in my life, with my mother. :)

ps. photo was originally taken by her.

intellectual exploration, are you serious?

I was so shocked when I found that one friend of mine publicly published a thought  in the social media which for me seems too negative corresponding to them who conservatively follow the original version of the religion. I knew that this kind of liberal thing has already been existed for quite some time, but I still can't believe that there are real people which I know in person who definitely thought like that. It was like knowing that your friend is an assassin working for narcotics mafia. Oh no, that's different.

Having faith after one's consciously long and winding road to arrive at the finding must be the utmost thing one would ever hold for the rest of the life then, it will be much more different with the one who was just inherited by the environment where their parents live in.  Never I think that we, whose faith by only accepting it, wouldn't be able to appreciate well what we have been given, but in some extent, I do agree that one should assign him/herself a process of what it takes to gaining the enlightenment, the way in which one is associated with the infinite substance behind all these existences. But regardless to that personal searching attempt, one still needs guidance because this ultimate decree commanded to us through the last Prophet just couldn't be interpreted personally. We need another ones to guide us while we are in the searching process, otherwise we would get lost.

My point here is, be careful with the guidance, dear.
In my humble opinion, there are no such principles as open to any forms of intellectual exploration, prioritizing religio-ethic, believing that truth is relative, siding with oppressed minoritie, etc. By this you'll call me narrow-minded, but I don't care my friend, you actually can find answers for all of your inclined suspicions and deviate interpretations in that thing you used to call holy book.

This deen has been perfectly revealed to us, humankind, as a complete way of life, so there's practically no room for innovation, no matter how brilliant you think your thoughts are. And no, my kind of attitude couldn't be called as.. just taking it for granted. This is a bless, a grace. Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny? (005:13)

photo challenge by colours of my life

Beautiful Sha from Colours of My Life initiated a world-wide competition for bloggers. Despite the fact that I am not a photographer myself, I am so keen on participating here! Isn't it sounded so fun?? Yes, I am so thrilled! :) Honestly, I want to join for the fun in the first place, so I don't take part only to win the competition. Hehe. It's all because I like pictures.

Find another details regarding to this challenge, here:

And.. it will begin in a couple of day! I hope I could manage myself to post every day for each of the theme as has been scheduled. :)

Lady of the Light

If there's any place I really want to visit the most beside Taj Mahal in Agra, India, it must be the city of Medina al Munawarra, this strong feeling of wanting comes after I read some books about the life story of Fatimah Az Zahra the daughter of Prophet (pbuh) and the beauty of her marriage life with Ali bin Abu Thalib as well.

Fatimah, the only daughter of the Holy prophet of Islam, was born I Mecca on 20 Th. Jumada ' th - thaniyah 18 BH. The good and noble lady Khadijah and the apostle of Allah bestowed all their natural love, care and devotion on their lovable and only child Fatimah, who in her turn was extremely fond of her parents. The princess of the House of the Prophet, was very intelligent, accomplished and cheerful. Her sermons, poems and sayings serve, as an index to her strength of character and nobility of mind. Her virtues gained her the title " Our Lady of light. she was tall, slender and endowed with great beauty, which caused her to be called " az - Zahra' " ( the Lady of Light). she was called az - Zahra' because her light used to shine among those in Heaven. After arriving in Medina, she was married to ` Ali , in the first year hijrah, and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Her children, Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and umm kul-thum. are well - known for their piety , goodness and generosity Their strength of character and actions changed the course of history. The Holy Prophet said, " Fatimah is a peace of my heart". He would go out to receive his doughtier whenever she come from her husband's house.

taken from here.

image source.

There are so many good things like bravery, generousity, sincerity, and purity that I've learned a lot from her life and character, and so that is how then I think I'm badly missing her after I've finished reading the books. Oh, when will I could visit this house of hers? InsyaAllah, someday. InsyaAllah :)

Dream Career, Anyone?

It's lunch time (and I really feel so boring here) when I received an interesting email. Here I share it with you all. :)

Have you ever thought about what your dream career/ideal day looks like? Often when we use our imagination to think of the ideal day we feel very excited and wonder what it would be like to be so lucky to experience such a day or even a moment in it. A little after thinking about the ideal comes the low, when you remember that where you are now is so far away from the dream that you just had. Don't worry or be sad about that...remember that now that you know what your ideal is you have a goal inshaAllah. Try and remember that everything happens for a reason and where you are now is because of a journey that you are on. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allah , is easy. In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful" (Surah 57,22-23)

 
So if you are feeling a bit down because the ideal day you imagined seems a million miles away from where you are now then continue to make dua and have hope. Why not put together a plan for how you can achieve your ideal and be on the path to making it a reality? Take one step at a time inshaAllah and make dua on every part of the journey.  To find resources to help you go to www.workingmuslim.com

Jazakum Allah Khayr,

Saiyyidah Zaidi,
On behalf of the WorkingMuslim.com, The only Champion for Working Muslim Women.

PS- If you have benefited from Working Muslim then why not share it with 3 friends? www.workingmuslim.com
 

 

2011

So this is my first post in 2011 archive. Well, I don't have any story about how was my new year's eve because I didn't celebrate it. Hehe. I mean, it was happened just like any other night, while everybody went outside to the center of the city with their loved ones to see the fireworks, I just slept away in my room because my mother prohibited me to go out. Well I actually never have been outside in every new year's day. But I do still have the same new spirit like you all to face all the things that will come in this year and its ahead now.

Anyway, this picture is so funny. Thank you Productive Muslim for sharing it in facebook. So.. LOL!

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