Alhamdulillah, I passed my last and only course!!!! WOHOOOOO!!!! I was so happy. Thank you ya Allah. You’re always there when I need You ♥
My last course EVER! Will I be going to school again?! I’m sure I’m going to miss it. If I had the chance to do it, I would probably choose Pedagogy or Social Work 🙂
All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.
— Jalal ad-Din Rumi
…then bring me there.
I’m tired. Physically and emotionally. My brain is tired. It’s hard to breathe too.
I feel like sleeping the whole week. What’s up with me?! Ya Allah, I need a boost. I need to take a break from everything surrounding me.
Your spouse is a gift of Allah to you. And to be ungrateful to a gift is to be ungrateful to Allah ‘Azza wa jal.
Your parents are a gift of Allah to you. So if you don’t have a good relationship with them, who are you actually be ungrateful to?
— Nouman Ali Khan
MasyaAllah. Yet another slap to the reality by one of my most favorite speakers. I was searching for some Islamic-related talk on YouTube about forgiving (remember, vulnerability?) and ended up listening to his lecture about Time, Love, Praise and Encouragement in Relationships. The lecture is filled with simple reminders on how to raise a kid and be a good parent and spouse.
But THAT quote really made me sick of myself. I’ve never felt so upset about myself.
Thank you ya Allah for the reminder. May Allah reward his efforts for delivering an excellent talk. And may I be constantly reminded. Amin ya rabbal alamin.
* I encourage everyone of you to watch this brilliant talk, even if you’re a non-Muslim or not religious. His other talks (of different issues) can be found on YouTube and I’ve been one of many people who have benefited from them.
These are some of the points that Sheikh Hamza Yusuf said about hijaab:
Nobody can say anybody is going to hell by not wearing a hijab. The hijab is shar’i — there’s no doubt about that. It’s not traditional. It’s part of our deen.
Women that don’t wear hijab, they’re in the state of ma’siyyat. All of us are in the state of ma’siyyat. We don’t do a lot of things that we should be doing (i.e. giving money, etc). The women taking off the hijab is only the symptom of a much bigger disease. If they choose to not wear them, that is their choice.
Muslims should get out of this obsession with women! It’s a sickness in our own hearts.
If the sisters are not wearing the hijab, her husband should be responsible for that. He own family should give her nasihat. Just lower your gaze.
We are living in the society where people walking around naked. And we are worried about somebody not wearing scarf on her head?!
A lot of Muslim men make it a hijab between women and their imaan. Not all of you are acting like sahabah and yet, you want the women to act like sahabiyat.
I challenge any of you to wear a robe and a turban one day out here. Just go and experience what it’s like to be identified as a Muslim. When you wear something that identify you as a Muslim, that itself is putting yourself in their face.
And for women it’s a lot harder. Because they have stereotypes that they are stupid, backward, ignorant — that’s the message that they’ve been given. They get stares and get laugh at.
We should have more compassion for our sisters! The reason why a lot of women are leaving Islam is because we’re chasing them out of Islam! We should have mercy on our sisters, defend them and protect them. Because they’re out there on the front line.
— Sheikh Hamza Yusuf
I was reading my old post about my experience working in Saudi Arabia and suddenly I remember the conversations that I had with my Saudi clients:
Client: Where are you from?
Me: Indonesia
Client: Really?! I thought you’re a Filipino!
Me: No, Sir. I’m 100% Indonesian.
Client: Wow! How come your English is so good? Where did you learn that from?
(I was asked with this question for so many times. They just couldn’t believe that I was an Indonesian. Damn I was offended!)
—
Client (on the phone, talking to his boss in Arabic): Yes, I am standing with a young woman now… Filipino, Malaysian, or whatever… She is handling everything.
Me: zzzzzzzz….
(He really thought I couldn’t understand Arabic! And what’s with the assumptions?!)
—
Client: Wow, you’re definitely the first Indonesian woman that I encounter working in an office.
Me: (smiling, but wanting to give him a slap to the reality, seriously)
—
Client: You have done a really great job! I’m satisfied with your work and all your help. We should have a coffee or tea later.
(I knew his intention and this was something that could not be done in Saudi Arabia! I could be arrested by the religious police and accused of khalwa!)
Me: Sorry, sir. I’ve got no time for that.
—
Client: Are you married?
Me: (extremely annoyed) Sir, I believe in professionalism. Can we put all the private questions to a side, please?!
(I felt like saying: it’s NONE of your business! Hehehe)
Mom: Have you been talking to that guy?
Me: Which guy? *pretending to be stupid*
Mom: You know… XX?
Me: Oohh.. THAT guy! Nope.
Mom: Why? He’s a nice guy, you know.
Me: Mom, I don’t know him, okay? *getting grumpy*
Mom: But you can chat over the internet, right?!
Me: *silent*
Mom: Or maybe you’re trying to hide your relationship again… like you did last time with YY?
Me: Hey, Mom! Do you know that I’m going to Egypt at the end of this year with Asti and one other friend?!
—
A usual conversation between mother and daughter that is hard to avoid. Every phone conversation is the same. I’m going crazy. HEEEELP!
Brené Brown wrote:
Sometimes the toughest part of embracing vulnerability is recognizing vulnerability. There are so many secondary emotions that spring to the surface and grab our focus. I wrote this in my journal this morning as a little reminder to look deeper, be mindful, and practice self-compassion. I don’t want to shut myself off from vulnerability because I don’t want to miss out on what it brings to my life: love, creativity, joy, authenticity, courage, and hope (just to name a few).
So, here is my own version of recognizing vulnerability….
Vulnerability is…
Vulnerability feels like…
The list is expanding… One thing I notice about this list is that most of them have to do with exposing myself, being transparent, and allowing myself to be really seen. Obviously I have a lot of "work" to do 😀
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