Thursday 30 October 2014

Salaam Maal Hijrah

Source: Internet
We have just ushered the new Islamic year on 25 October 2014.

Personally, I hope that this would be a time of reflection, on my walk towards Allah in the year just passed and what I could improve on, in the year that has arrived, In-Shaa-Allah.

There are so many aspects that I need to improve on. So many. My Quran recitation is the first on the list. And there are specific duas and elements that I have been wanting to memorise; and never got to doing it.

AZ has been sharing with me that the level of peace and happiness that we attain depends on our niyah (intention) towards what we hope to achieve. He has been constantly reminding me that we should be looking beyond this world, and work sincerely towards the Hereafter.

And this is not easy. And it will never be, I think. I pray that Allah (S.W.T) makes all our journey towards HIM easy, In-Shaa-Allah.

Thursday 23 October 2014

In A New Space

Source: Internet
I have just started on a new role in my organisation. With so much technicalities involved in the way that this organisation operates, I am considered to be on new employment.
This means I have had to resign from my previous job and hired as a new entrant in the new role in a different team.

It sure has been a comfort zone; the team, the work, the job scope that I have been doing for a good meaningful seven years, Alhamdhulilah. But it was this very comfort level on my job that made me move – move on to take on different challenges.

In fact, I had long wanted to join this new team; Allah (S.W.T) has only made it possible for me now. I believe I was in a better position to secure this job at this stage, after the years of experience and knowledge in the organsiation. We, mankind, just make plans, ultimately, HIS plans for us are always greater and sweeter. SubhanAllah.

But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
(Verse 8:30, Surah Al-'Anfāl)

The other sweetener in this new role is that I had decided to take steps to even find out if there was an opportunity in the first place, in the month of Ramadan this year. HE made the path easy, and by the time we were celebrating Eid-Ul-Adha, I had already accepted the offer. And started work two days after Eid-Ul-Adha. Alhamdhulilah.

Many have asked me why I decided to take on this role – which is likely to be time-consuming, with more assignments, projects and responsibilities. My reasons lie with the target group that we will be working with in this team. I will have a bigger opportunity, In-Shaa-Allah, to serve the community that I have always wanted to more directly – our Ummah.

AZ has given me his support, as always, and this matters most to me.

I hope Allah (S.W.T) gives me strength to find this new role more meaningful than what I have moved on from; while it is going to be hard work, I see them as doors to earn more rewards for the Hereafter, In-Shaa-Allah.

Sunday 5 October 2014

Selamat Hari Raya Haji!

"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him." 
[Al-Qur'an 22:37]

Wishing all Muslims a blessed Eid-Ul-Adha. We celebrated Eid here today, while my in-laws celebrated Eid yesterday. And AZ's relatives in India will be celebrating tomorrow, In-Shaa-Allah.

I hope that Allah (S.W.T) has accepted all our Korban (animal sacrifices), sadaqah (charity), fasts and voluntary prayers. 

Alhamdhulilah, for us at home, it was a warm homely time of great food and great family time.

I wished I had done better with spending time with the Quran and Tahajjud prayers though. Time and again, I am reminded of the need to establish a secret relationship with Allah (S.W.T) through the Tahajjud prayers. But I am just not doing enough. 

I have made the niyyah (intention) to spend more time on this special prayers on certain times of the week. AZ is also supporting me on this, encouraging me to stay focussed on what I want to achieve. I really hope to do better on these special prayers, In-Shaa-Allah.

And I can't complete an Eid-Ul-Adha post without sharing this. Sister Umm Salihah has done a beautiful post on what this Eid means for Muslims. Please read her informational post here.

And keep her in your duas if you found the read useful, In-Shaa-Allah.

Mum's murukku and my marble cake. Both came out to be yummy, Alhamdhulilah.