sunny day

i went to the office with much gusto today. first thing i did was spend some time with my assistants discussing. that lasted about three minutes before we all ended talking about other things and laughing for the next half hour. warming.

next, went to see my boss to update her. that lasted a minute before she changed the whole discussion to personal talk and nothing work related. more laughing. connecting. heartwarming.

had lunch with my sister and parents. heart-toasty.

told my assistants i planned to spend the rest of the day with family. and so i did. plus two hours of browsing at the pengallery store with my sister. heart-charging.

and this evening, bowling with cousins.

my heart is so full it could burst right now.

thank you God, for Your rahmat.

via mobile coz my modem is on vacation and i just have to blog this today.

Hadith for this week

Narrated Jundab bin ‘Abdullah r.a.: The Prophet s.a.w. became sick and did not get up (for Tahajjud prayer) for a night or two. (Bukhari)

Allah knows best.

my doa

It is at times when I watch my loved ones in pain and suffering that I am most affected.
Mentally and physically.
I may be able to control it most times.
Act stoic and unemotional.
Until it becomes too much to be kept inside.

Every grunt or sigh of pain, stabs me deeply.
Every drop of tear shed, blinds me.
Every mental anguish, burns my mental faculty.
If I could, I would gladly take the pain, the suffering, the tears and mental anguish.
I would embrace it and make it mine.
As long as my loved ones are spared.
I would do this willingly.
No hesitation.

Mama is in pain.
Abah is unwell, tired and worried.
Oh Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim,
Forgive my parents.
Grant them strength and patience,
In facing your tests in this world.
Grant them respite, when their strength and patience fails.
Love them and promise them
Your paradise in the hereafter.
Amin.

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadith No. 414

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah's Messenger (S.A.W) said, "Whoever says, Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi, one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea".
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadith No. 414)

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.9, Hadith No. 652

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "(There are) two words (expressions or sayings) which are dear to the Most Gracious (Allah) and very easy for the tongue to say, but very heavy in the Balance. They are:

* Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi
Subhan Allahil Azim.
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.9, Hadith No. 652)

* Glorified is Allah and praised is He
Glorified is Allah, the Most Great.

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadith No. 318

Narrated Shaddad bin Aus:
The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is:

* Allahumma Anta Rabbi,
la ilaha illa Anta.
Anta khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka,
wa ana ala 'ahdika wa wa' dika mastata' tu.
A'udhu bika min sharri ma sanatu,
abu'u laka bini' matika 'alaiya,
wa abu 'ulaka bidhanbi faghfirli fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa Anta

The Prophet (S.A.W) added: "If somebody recites them during the day with firm faith in it, then dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadith No. 318).

* O Allah, You are my Lord!
None has the right to be worshipped but You.
You created me and I am Your slave,
and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise (to You) as much as I can.
I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done.
I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me,
and I confess to You all my sins.
So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.

count it!

A reminder to myself.
Count your blessings.
Not your misfortunes.

morning thots

"All of God's gifts to us are blessings. It is our abuse of them that destroys us."

for my kakak

My sister asked me to remind her again on the few "choice" surahs to be recited daily.
If I placed it here, then I am altogether reminded of it.

So kakak, here goes (not in any particular order).

Before bedtime:
1) Al Mulk, surah no. 67 (as practised by our Prophet S.A.W.)
2) Al Sajdah, surah no. 32 (as practised by our Prophet S.A.W.)
3) Qursi (in Al Baqarah)
4) Ad Dhukan, surah no. 44 (especially Friday night)

After Subuh:
5) Al Hashr, surah no. 59

6) Al-Kahf, surah no. 18 - for "ketenangan"(especially on Friday)

Tall order?
Do what you can.
As in all things, once you are used to it, it's like breathing. :)

Allah knows best.

A moment to reflect

Oh Allah, lead me to the straight path...

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Return to earth

I was at a relative's funeral today.
This is the third in a short span of time.

It has shaken me somewhat.
It makes me ponder and assess my own standing.
Am I ready for death?

What has this has to do with fountain pen collecting?
Plenty.

Human nature is all about collecting.
It may be a hobby, a need or a want of an item.
We look for it. We find it. We collect it.

What happens when death calls?
We answer, and all that we collect is no longer of value to us.
Because when we return to earth, we return alone...