Tuesday 19 February 2013

Allyanne


I was playing the guitar one day and Allyanne wanted to sing Mine by Taylor Swift. She really knows this song and I must admit, she's adorable when she tries, haha. She's growing up so much and it's happening before our eyes. Sometimes we don't even realise it because it's happening so gradually. I guess this is how our parents feel when they look at us.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Astaghfirullah

I opened up blogger because I originally wanted to post about how I feel my life is so difficult. I wanted to complain about how all these people in my life, the friends I have made, are so nice and sweet. And that it makes it so much harder for me when they will have to leave. Sometimes I feel I want to break contact with them. Stay distant so it won't hurt as much later on, or avoid talking to those who have already left.
Then I realised how ungrateful I am. My life is not at all difficult. I have been blessed and I am spoilt. I will never be grateful enough for what Allah has given me.

"Complaining is ingratitude. So when you complain, you show ingratitude to Allah."

Astaghfirullah.

People are just people and although you cannot help what you feel, is it not better to feel sad about something that is much more important? You cannot change the situations around you but you can, however, change how you react to these situations. Learn to accept the happenings around you for Allah has planned it, and no misfortune happens without His permission. It's time to concentrate on what we were put on this earth to do.

May Allah guide us and keep us on the right path, ameen.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Practicing to perform

I'm very tired of Dikir Barat practice for M Night and going to Redfern to practice our performance for ladies night. I know it's just singing but I don't know why, it makes me tired. I don't want to complain too much though, because although all this takes up most of my time, I know that I will miss it in the future. I will miss performing, practicing, making friends and hanging out. It's very fun. 

Below is a photo of the Dikirans learning their moves. I can see that they are all having fun and that makes me happy. I hope I don't let them down.


Group photo with the girls! We had a dress rehearsal yesterday. Is my outfit weird? Yes, I think so.
I may not know these ladies very well but I like them so much. They are so kind and friendly.


Another group photo with some of the dikirans. They are so sweet :) :) 


Hehe, me and Fatin playing with the Tomoto app on my iPhone.


Me and pretty Pei Shen!!


Haha, during the dress rehearsal, there were no plates left so we had to eat mee goreng in a Costa cup and use the stirring sticks as chop sticks. It reminded me of the time in Malaysia when we visited Melaka. We stayed at AFamosa resort with Haziq and for some reason, the kitchen didn't have any plates or cutlery?! So we improvised, just like camping...


Everyday, we sell food. I will sell it during practice, carry it with me everywhere. This bag has many memories; selling rice at the prayer hall; selling food at Warwick games; food delivery; M night practice, and many others...


I'm very, very tired and it's very, very late and I just finished practice with "Satu Arah". I really wanted to go home but felt too lazy to walk all the way home. But, alhamdulillah, I have a brother who can drive, so here I am, with my guitar behind my back, waiting for my ride home.

Friday 1 February 2013

"Praise is poison"

A dua I found about how we, as Muslims, should react when praised (or insulted, or when someone has the wrong perception about us)...

.اللهمَ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُون
Allahumma-ja’lni khayran mima yadhunoon wa-ghfir li ma la ya’lamoon wa la tu’akhidhni bi ma yaquloon.
"Oh Allah, do not call me to account for what they say & forgive me for what they have no knowledge of and make me better than they imagine"
[This supplication was not taught to us by the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), but it is one that his best friend, Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) would make after being praised (some narrations state that it was a duaa of Ali radi Allahu anhu).] 

This was the article that accompanied the dua: 


"For many Muslims involved in da'wah work or Islamic studies, one of the biggest struggles they face is praise and fame from their communities and peers. It is the nature of humans to praise what they see of people, but we are taught in our Deen that too much praise can harm a person.
Once, the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) heard a man praising another, and he responded to him, “May Allah 's Mercy be upon you! You have cut the neck of your friend.” [Bukhari]
My teacher used to say, “praise is poison”, because of how it can ruin a good intention into a corrupt one. When we are constantly praised, our weak souls begin to rely and covet this praise, so good deeds are then done solely to hear those words of praise. A person's nafs may rely so much on this praise that they begin seeking it for what they did not do."

http://muslimmatters.org/2011/04/26/the-supplication-series-being-praised/