Barakallah!

... is the word that often spread out in the air lately as I've been invited to my friends' wedding ceremonies  around these days. Everybody around my age (yes, us! the mid-twenties) seems ready in tying the knot and settling down with their loved other half. Many had asked me, when is your turn? Hehe, I just successfully managed myself to answer it all with, "secret!" Not that I already plan something big and keep it discreet merely to make it sound surprising but yes it indeed is Allah's secret. :)

And one of the happy wedding days is my best friend's! This happy girl (the one in the right side) whom I always feel happy to be around has finally found the one with whom she will spend her life to reach His bless. You are right dear, it is just a matter of time.

This happy couple will build their happy life together as husband and wife in a house that I designed back in 2009. We're sooooooooo happy for you, mbauput!

The Guest House

Another beautiful and thoughtful words from Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, he's always been my favorite.

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whomever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

 (from the The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks)

Another Moment in Time

There is this person I like to talk about whose life like a wave with thousand spin-drifts which successfully made me want to dive in its far down; an ocean-like, a very vast one. I tried hard to save myself from being attached to anyone by building high castle walls around my fragility, because somehow it's true when some people said that attachments lead to expectations and expectations lead to.. disappointments. But, with those honorific respect and impressive sympathy this friend had showered me with, how can I not? Throughout all of these tough times I refused any summons and intricately still stood solitaire, one thing I aware is that I was unexplainably determined with the spin-drifts this friend has been through with. It's surprising as I have spent these 8 years and 8 months growing up with all that only complying from the outside. Yet regardless to what's the intention of  this friend's concealment to bridge our inner world, I feel so blessed that I could still open my eyes wide until today and see ya around without any less of anything. Alhamdulillah.

My best friend.. happy birthday again! :)

I ask Allah that He would like to bless you with humble gratifications you've always wished. I am happy seeing you happy. I know you will be.

And keep wishing our friendship to last forever wont be too much now, right? The company to bring the wind of change in my life along with its supernal determination, the one who always reminds me to plant and spread the seed of goodness. There's a lot of people coming in and going out through my door, nevertheless I hope you would like to stay around and give me more only everything. Like always, my dearest..

image source

Give Me a Break!

Hi I come again, today's post will be full enough with a series of photo from the street life of Saigon city I've visited back in the end of 2009. It's already been many times I said that I desperately need a vacation or any kind of escapism to get a break from the hectic routine living under pressure with heavy load of work, because seeing and experiencing new things from different places is always a good way of rejuvenation for me.

Anyway, I took the photos above using my pocket camera, but have it done with Polaroid effect using this application. Go download it for free! :) It's fun!

Fostered Flowers

Everyone can be busy with their own stuffs for a long time of period, but may I say that I'm actually missing my city farmer friend now, after the tight schedule of mine reaching yesterday's deadline,  I have just realized that no matter what, I actually still need this other one to share things with although that somehow I've successfully done it alone my way. Dont take this as a statement or an act of demanding much attention from whom I consider as the most treasured one. I just hope we could have some free time very soon and escape a little from the hustle and bustle of this speeding life, walk down the street by the lake, in a place where we used to spend our transition time from teenage to young adulthood separately together, talk about everything, plan we've made, people we've met, things we've done, and any kind of memories during the times we haven't been with each other. That's what we call caring friendship. :)

It's quite weird to feel that we've grown together meanwhile we're just too worldly apart. Whatsoever the disparities might be, I want to watch the flowers grow; coloring spaces between us and harmonizing the discrepancies we probably still have in mind...

These pictures were taken at Petaling Street during last year's business trip to KL.
PS. I desperately need some kind of holiday!

Moving Forward

Earliest this morning, my cousin sister sent me a message, which pretty much helps in boosting my mood and firming my conviction about the decision I am going to take from this point forward. If there's anything I would like to say in the first place is to give a sincerest apology to my manager at the office as for me being hard to handle and stubborn lately. I should really thank him for the opportunity for me to lead a big project. Since the project has FINALLY DONE now, I can have enough free time for blogging from the office. :D

Anyway, these are some verses from the morning message which I said self-convincing. I know  that sometimes, there's always this kind of days coming in between the anxiousness and senseless when I feel empty and just don't know what I really want in life, have not considered yet what I want to do, or even to imagine what I want to be in the future. But nevertheless, I hope it wont happen again, to me or any of us, because it's such a waste of time, you know. Don't you think that the phrases below will be useful for the times when those flustering question marks taking place all over your brain, do ya? Worry not, because we actually already have the answers from our holy Al-Qur'an. :)

Why are we tested?
answered in Al-Ankabut: 2-3

Do people think that they will be left alone because they said "we believe!", and will not be tested? And we indeed tested those who were before them, and Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and Allah will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows that before putting them to the test).

Why don't I get what I want?
answered in Al-Baqarah: 216

But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

Why were we tested this hard?
answered in Al-Baqarah : 286

Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity. It will have (the consequence of) what (good) it has gained, and it will bear (the consequence of) what (evil) it has earned.

Why should feel so stressed?
answered in Al-Imran : 139

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are (true) believers.

Why should we face it?
answered in Al-Baqarah : 45

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah).

What do I get?
answered in At-Taubah : 111

Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties (in exchange) for that they will have Paradise.

To whom I should rely on?
answered in At-Taubah: 129

But if they turn away, (O Muhammad), say, "Sufficient for me is Allah ; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.

I can't cope with these all any longer!
answered in Yusuf: 87

Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.

Hmm, I think it will best to re-read these verses again later at home. Ahhh, can I go home now, Boss?I am sleepyyyyyy :D Just out of my curiosity, is the anyone here had ever read Sayyid Qutb's Fi Zhilalil Quran? I'm planning to start reading it as I found it interesting when I saw in my mother's library last night.

the in between

To a dearest friend of mine,

Tears no more as those all had gone to the shore
whereas the candle-lights lit to ignite the night
To cause our thing just feels so unearthly

In the outline of two little spaces
that create resonance in silence
Rushing each solitude to the outstretched
as if they were tweezed
Fondling the second where the word here and there
loop in a series of chain
Knowing that now and then are
only for The Highest of all kinds

It is like hand in hand
standing in a good ground of intention
that meets without sights
wherein sizzling without hissing
For only reverently echoed beautiful ways of thought
that could tight the in between of us closely to the rest
 
You are distinguishably distinct for all the sacrifices
as good as of the angels without wings
Who lifts me up when I am about to give up
Blows me with the most high spirited breathing one could have
that heals all the bitter in taste.

 

Salam everyone! Yes, I am still alive, Alhamdulillah :)

I know that it's weird coming back here again and begin with an ugly poem, but it's quite nice for a try, right? As the update is that life has been filled with so many blessings I even couldn't ever count.
Thank you Allah, You're the One.. 

And just like what my dear friend once told me, we don't have to feel scared of the future, as the only destination of all is to be in His way. We have to struggle and embrace the best in achieving our future life, yes. But the life after this future life of the world is a bigger fighting we should also win.

Why Are We Here?

 image source

Please ignore Hobbes' We're Here to Devour Each Other Alive answer. I just, over and over again, start thinking about what's the purpose of our creation in this life after seeing so many things happened around us today. What's the point on working so hard? To look after your family? To pursue the life of your dreams? To contribute in making a better world to be dwelled? Heard too shallow for me now. Maaan, could they just stop the news on the corruption things arise these days? This, this, this and many more cases are dreadfully nauseating. Don't we think that this world and all the things live on it are only for temporary and won't last forever, do we?