Finding Peace In HIS Plans...

Assalamua'alaikum, everyone.

I have been wanting to pen my thoughts on  a couple of issues that have been on my mind.

Along these few weeks, I have also been planning for lots of 'me-time' too.

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

How so true is this...isn't it?

A couple of things have now put been on my plate - at the homefront and at work; and I have been kept busy, so much so that it has been both mentally and physically exhausting.

I have been praying for strength, and thanking Allah (S.W.T) for every blessing he has given us, and me!

Will be back to this space in a while, In-Shaa-Allah.

Till then, please keep my family and me in your duas.

JazakAllahu Khair.

Source: Internet

Some Fish For A Puttu-ish Dish

These days, as I had mentioned in my earlier post, I have been cooking proper meals every day. For AZ and my lunch packs. When I mean 'proper meals', I do my best to include a meat and a vegetable dish.

While on weekdays, I prepare our lunches after Isyak, on Sundays, I try and get everything done before Zuhur, so that I get to do other things with the rest of the precious remaining weekend.

And so, yesterday, I decided to try a healthier dish. I have been thinking of fish puttu for a while whenever I crack my brains on what to make - so that AZ doesn't get the same lunch variety week after week, and also eats healthily, In-Shaa-Allah.

I have eaten  fish puttu only once at my dear friend D's house some years back. Her Mum made this for lunch with other vegetarian mains. We don't make this in our house. But after trying this, Mum would be game enough to make, In-Shaa-Allah.

It came out really nice, Alhamdhulilah. And it's fairly a simple dish to make.

Here's sharing a modified recipe of various versions I found online (and eventually tried in our kitchen)...
I am not going to state portions, because I never follow them in any recipe. I believe they should be according to yours and your family's needs and taste buds.

Ingredients
Fish (any type!)
Onions and green chillies (diced)
Mustard seeds
Pepper corns
Tumeric powder
Chilli powder
Pepper powder

Getting It Done
1. Wash fish thoroughly. Mum reminds me time and again that fish must be washed with ginger and garlic paste and some tumeric. 

2. Boil for five to six minutes with salt (this is a must!).

3. Drain the water and mesh them up with a spoon.

4. Add some oil and saute the mustard seeds, pepper corns, followed by the onions, chillies, and the other masalas and fish.

5. Serve up with rice or chappathi.

I made ladies fingers' masala to accompany this in our lunch boxes.

Alhamdhulilah.

Food With Dzikir, And Duas

I am writing this post to share on the barakah that food cooked in the home - peppered with our dzikir and niyaah - brings to us. What I am sharing may be trivia to some; but this 'discovery' is something that I made all over again .

I have written about this (the blessings of having food from cooking at home) before here, but nevertheless, would like to share this again.

AZ told me some two months back that he's been saving his sandwiches that I sometimes pack for his breakfast, for lunch. The nearest halal food place is about 15 minutes walk from his fairly new workplace and he's been forgoing the walk so that he has enough time for his zuhur prayers, lunch and some much-needed rest.

Having thought about it, I decided to put in some extra effort and time to prepare his lunch and keep the night before and store it in the fridge. Alhamdhulilah, this means Mum's lunch was fixed too. After a month of getting into this, I thought it made more sense that I increase the portions and pack lunch for me too!

It's been a month or so, that I have been bringing my packed lunch to work, and the outcome on my immune system has been amazing. Alhamdhulilah. Before that month, I was having a 'non-stop' dry cough that had lasted for months. It used to frustrate me and my colleagues (am sure, although they never said it). Given that I had to hop into cabs at least twice a week to get to meetings, events, with the nature of my job, I used to get nasal irritation very easily. And have ended up finishing up a whole box of tissues on a single work day on many instances.

Alhamdhulilah, ever since I started bringing food from home to work, and all other factors remaining constant, my immune system has improved by leaps and bounds. Masha-Allah, I have not been coughing incessantly, and cab rides have been sneeze-free. I was awed by this change and was sharing with my colleague, Sister A, who is now expecting and brings food from her home too. She was quick to pinpoint that the food that I have been eating (with all the duas and dzikir) made all that difference. There was once I had to eat out as I didn't bring food from home - probably because a lunch meeting got cancelled - and a cough did start showing up. I resumed with food from home the next day and it was fixed, Alhamdhulilah.

So much barakah for cooking with the remembrance of Allah. SubhanAllah.

My lunch box with 'sotong sambal' and eggs. (yes, I know I need to work on reducing oil in my cooking...trying my best, In-Shaa-Allah.)

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.

Are We Ready?

Alhamdhulilah.  I had made the niyah (intention) to get all the necessary preparations done before Ramadan starts earalier. And as I had hoped and prayed for, all the work has been done.

The house is really in order – all the cupboards, and compartments that are usually re-arranged and cleaned up at this time of the year are in check. All our overgrown clothes that were still in great condition have been packed and given away to others who need it more. We packed some to India and gave some away here. The same with all the other additional things in the house. Alhamdhulilah, that Allah (S.W.T) brought us to find people who will make good use of these stuff and benefit, In-Shaa-Allah.

Alhamdhulilah, and thank you, Ya Rabb, for giving me the time and space to be a more prepared for Ramadan this year. And many thanks and duas for many sisters who have shared their experiences in their blogs (Sister Umm Salihah is inevitably one of them). I hope preparing for Ramadan gets better and better each year for everyone.

Spiritually, I had hoped very much to have memorised some specific duas in the Quran. I have accomplished about half of my targets set. Alhamdhulilah. I will continue into Ramadan, In-Shaa-Allah. I have also signed up for a weekly Quran workshop, by Ustazah Su’aidah Salim for the whole of Ramadan. The first session will begin on the first day of Ramadan. I am so looking forward to the session. I am also considering taking up other online courses here and I hope Allah will guide me closer towards the Quran. Ameen.

My reflections on Asma-Al-Husna will continue too, In-Sha-Allah. We have 29 days in Ramadan here. Three to four names per day, In-Shaa-Allah.

Duas. The most beautiful element in Ramadan – for me. Is your list ready? Mine is ready on a mental note. But maybe, by tomorrow, I should really have them written up. In-Shaa-Allah.

I took some time off this morning to pack these gifts for Ramadan for three people whom I knew for sure I would meet at work. A brother, an elderly auntie and a sister (a special sister she really is becoming, Alhamdhulilah). 

I pray that Ramadan greets us all in good iman and health. May Allah (S.W.T) give us all the strength and faith to make the most of this very blessed month. Ameen.

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: All other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with: I am observing a fast. By Him in Whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Giving And Receiving

This week has been a very meaningful week, packed with really impactful training modules at our iMentor training academy, Alhamdhulilah. So much so that I felt I was overloaded with information.

With that, there have also been many things on my mind that I have been actually falling asleep feeling exhausted on how I was going to accomplish them. And the top of this list of things all are my very lagging preparations – physical, spiritual and domestic – for our very blessed and my most-looked forward to month – Ramadan. SubhanAllah.

I realised I have not started with any of the things that I had planned for (as mentioned in my earlier posts) and am feeling terrible about it.

Shopping for family – both here and abroad, getting the house in order (the way I always want it before Ramadan starts!), baking some sweets to be sent home, speeding up with my spiritual learnings. So many things to be done and I haven't even started.

I have been telling AZ about them and he has been doing his best to calm me, and reminded me that the priority should be preparing for Ramadan, and that everything else will fall into place after that.

Today, while at work, I was so overwhelmed with the same emotions that I couldn’t write, almost till it was time for Zuhur. I gave up battling with my emotions and surrendered myself in prayers, to our Rabb. I had already made a mental note to take a walk outside, get myself something sweet, like a muffin or a chocolate, and very importantly, to give sadaqah.

And I did all of these. The giving really mattered. It always does. I came back to my desk, feeling refreshed, and recharged. I could get to work with so much clarity and got almost everything I had to do, done.

I have experienced this many times before. The beauty of sadaqah. Many a times, I have made the niyah (intention) to have the opportunity to meet someone who will REALLY benefit with my deed. And SubhanAllah, out of nowhere, HE sends them right in front of me. Just recollecting those moments are so moving.

The power of niyah. The power of asking Allah (S.W.T). The power of talking to HIM. The power of giving. Anywhere. Anytime. SubhanAllah.

Source: Internet

Another Peaceful Moment...

Last-minute changes that are characterised by last-minute interviews, photoshoots and similar assignments are very common in my job. So much so that my friends and the Cousin Sister whom I always plan lunches with have become so used to my last-minute cancellations of our meetings as well. But all of them have been ever so understanding and never once took offence with this. Alhamdhulilah.

I never had an issue with this too though, as I came in with such expectations, knowing the nature of this job. But what gets me turned off sometimes is when these things fall in between prayer times. Like starting just before prayer times or stretching over two prayer times.

Then again, Alhamdhulilah, there are always ways to turn towards my duty to our Rabb in between these work commitments, and there is also always a sense of joy when I get this done. 

There was one such moment last week. Good thing that I was already told to be at the event place the evening before, and I did my homework after Fajr that morning to find a Musollah (prayer room) in that area. Although I have been to cover events at the place several times before, I always had to head back to office where I could do my prayers in our gym.

But this day last week was different; I had to spend the whole day there. And I was really glad to know that a new Musollah was in place in the shopping mall near the place of my event. I had long wanted to give away a prayer mat from our house and was looking for an appropriate place and time to do so. This was the time. I brought it with me to work that morning.

I had lunch in the mall and headed to the Musollah. It was very well-maintained, Alhamdhulilah. Two prayer rooms - for the Muslimah and Muslimin - and a spacious ablution area. Masha-Allah.

This Musollah is at Level 4 of the IMM Building at Jurong East. 

Take the lift closest to Mcdonald's at Level 1. Once alighting at Level 4, turn left twice. There will be clear signs too. The key to the ablution area can also be found hung on the left side of the wall when you step in.

I made duas for the people who made the Musollah possible and who were maintaining it too. I pray that Allah (S.W.T) blesses them with HIS mercy always. Ameen.

If you are reading this and benefit from this someday when you are in the mall, In-Shaa-Allah, please keep my family and me in your duas too. Jazak Allahu Khair.

My Crown Of Confidence

Source: Internet

This is my brief hijab story.

I always like listening to stories on other sisters’ journey towards the hijab. Because every story is meaningful and special. Like most sisters, I have a story too.

There was always something missing in my life in the times before hijab. There was this confidence and strength that was always missing. In short, I never felt complete – as a woman, as a Muslimah.

I have heard several sisters share this same line with me – this incomplete feeling.

Together with the hijab on my head came my crown of confidence. People looked at me with much more respect and I could feel that I was a stronger person. From the day I wore this crown, I have never stopped wishing I had made the decision much earlier. And I made lots of duas that Our Rabb forgives me for this. Ameen.

The day I wore my hijab, Brother accompanied me to change my passport and identity card. I wanted to be wearing the hijab in all form of my identification – to some extent, I felt it was new me. I had to be more responsible in the public now – because what I do will now reflect Islam and other Muslim women in our society.

What I didn’t expect was the reaction from my colleagues. It was the year-end festive season here, and I walked in wearing the hijab for the first time when everyone was busy decorating the office for year-end celebrations. I still remember their expressions. Once I stepped in, everyone of them, who were all non-Muslims (except for just 1 out of 50), cheered and clapped loudly. Some female colleagues even hugged me. SubhanAllah. This sure moved me a lot. Some colleagues who were closer to me knew of my decision earlier. But the reactions of those who had no clue was just as beautiful. 

From then on, some groups of colleagues made use of all opportunities that sprang up to buy me hijabs as gifts. Alhamdhulilah. This is one of the precious things about living harmoniously in a multi-racial country like ours. For that matter, the other Muslim colleague and I never once had to check whether the catered food for office parties was halal, because we had wonderful colleagues who made sure the caterers were halal-certified. Alhamdhulilah.

After I started wearing the hijab, one of non-Muslim colleagues said this to me – “You know, with the scarf wrapped over your head, you look like you were born to wear the hijab.” Masha-Allah. I am thankful every bit that I was born a Muslimah.

Source: Internet

Water From Allah (S.W.T)

Ibn ‘Abbas  reported that the Messenger of Allah  said, “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam...” (At-Tabarani)

Walked in to office this morning and was pleasantly greeted with two bottles of Zam Zam water on my desk. Alhamdhulilah. A lovely colleague and friend, and a very-soon-Mum-to-be, Sister N, had bought this for me.

She told me over lunch one day that she was starting to look for dates and Zam Zam water as she takes a break from work very soon, in awaiting the arrival of her baby boy soon, In-Shaa-Allah. 

So, keeping this in mind, some days later, as I met a Cousin Sister for lunch at Arab Street here, I bought some dates for Sister N (as dates are found abundantly here).  At one of the stores, I thought I had finally found Zam Zam water and bought several bottles – some for us and some for Sister N.

Upon reaching office from lunch, just as I was about to hand them to her, I realised they weren’t! I had misread the label on the bottles of water. So much for having the need to have an eye for detail as a journalist!

Sister N has been very sweet to remember my 'hunt' for Zam Zam water and it is very kind of her to share the barakah of this precious water from Allah (S.W.T) with our family. Masha-Allah.

Allah (S.W.T) has sent us the ways to drink this water filled with HIS blessings.

There are some useful materials here, from where I have extracted the useful information here.

Make this dua when drinking Zam Zam water.

Allahuma inni asalooka ilam nafi-aw waa rizkaw wasi aw-washifa am-min kulli daa-een. 

Source: Internet

These are the other Sunnah ways that we should adopt when drinking Zam Zam water as gathered from the above link.

-   Facing the qiblah

Ibn 'Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him said: "If you drink Zam-Zam water drink your fill, turn towards the Qiblah, say "Bismillaah" (in the name of Allah) and breathe three times and when you finish, you should say "Alhamdu lillaah" (All perfect praise be to Allaah).

- Drink in three sips

Imaam Al-Bukhaari and Muslim may Allaah have mercy upon them reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)used to drink in three sips, breathing outside the container. Ibn Qataadah, may Allah have mercy upon him, also narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) forbade breathing into the container when drinking. When a person drinks in one go, he will possibly breathe into the inside of the container (which is forbidden).

- Make a Niyyah (intention)

A person drinking Zamzam water should intend and hope for healing, blessings and whatever is best for him in this life and in the hereafter.

The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "The water of Zam-Zam is (good) for whatever it is intended).

-  Make duas in between drinking

We should make as many supplications as one wishes between the gulps.

- Say Alhamdhulillah after drinking