The journey

Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo.

Flying from the ‘City of 1000 Minarets’ took about 12 hours to reach the ‘City of Lights’. I looked at the clouds outside. Clean and white. The sky was blue. It felt like a dream. I never dream that I would be back to Malaysia this year. Subhanallah. Allah The Creator:

He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not
find any discrepancy in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again-do you see
any gaps? Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and
exhausted!

(Qur'an, 67:3-4)

He is Al-Khaaliq. He creates the sun, the moon and the lovely sky. Also the land , the hills and the mountain high. Imagine a huge planet with its surface completely empty. There are no humans or animals, no plants or insects. He has made us and everything- the beasts, the fowls and birds that sing.

Blessing of pain

"Come home for me, Along," she said on the phone.

"I want to see you, I want to have your courage! Bring me your smile, Along," her voice trembled in her tears. My tears were rolling down my cheeks like rain. "I am sorry, mama, for abandoning you," I replied. Guilty. That evening, we cried together as much as we wanted, as though we were hugging each other long and warm hugs. Letting the tears swept away the fears.

I sat on my chair. Still. Listened to her inner feelings at the end of the line. Saying nothing. If only I could fly in the air, I would be there for her. Distance has separated us. In different continents, separated by Indian Oceans between Egypt and Malaysia. Poor, mama! She had been through a lot of setbacks in her life. But she is strong, no, stronger than I imagined. I always look up to her. She is my source of courage; keep telling me that Allah is never gonna let me go astray. She is my alive diary; I can pour to her anything I’ve been through in my days…my ups and downs. She is my role model, keep providing me good examples to cope with life. She is always near whenever I need her. That moment, I felt her pain. There’s nothing more painful than to let her feelings take her down.
 

Can I be multilingual?

" U changed me. the Malaysians," said a local Egyptian who teaches us Arabic lesson. My friends and I looked at each other, puzzled. Then he began his story, how he started to concern about standard Arabic and English language. We listened to him, doozed.

During his schooling, he learnt English and Arabic as other students would do, to excel in examinations. As he entered Al-Azhar University, the oldest university in world, he started to take both languages for granted. Until that day, the day he met a Malaysian student.

"He was a nice friend. He can't communicate using General Arabic that is spoken in Egypt. But his English and Standard Arabic surprised me," he continued.

Quest of maghfirah

Last night was a bright night. The moon shone fairly down to the earth. Moderate temperature. Tranquility was in the air. This morning was a bright morning too. The birds chirped happily. A bleesed day!

Today is seventeenth ramadhan of 1430, the day of Nuzul Quran. The day Al-Quran was settled down to our noble Prophet (s.a.w). It contains beautiful words arranged in wonderful manners. Subhanallah! Moreover, it was perfected in the second phase of ramadhan, quest of maghfirah. It’s the phase of forgiveness from Allah the All-Forgiving. Amazing, huh? Ar-Raheem sent Al-Quran as rahmah and forgiveness for the believers!
 

A warm welcome

Violet Garden, 'Garden of Courage'.

Violet orchid. Specially chosen name, immortalizing the most favourite flower of my beloved mother. Her fondest floras are from Orchidaceae family. Orchidaceae is the largest plant’s family, estimated up to 35 000 species.

This exotic flower grows wild but indeed very sensitive. Orchid represents love, beauty and refinement of the persona. No wonder why my admired mother has chooses orchids decorating her blessed garden. As for Violet, it symbolizes aristocracy, self-respect, strong spiritual and hidden knowledge. Violet Orchid apparently produces a unique equivalent combination, and I should leave the evaluation to you, my honoured readers.

Hopefully you’ll continue visiting Violet Orchid again and again. Who knows you might pick something precious while strolling around my humble garden. And yeah, a footstep will delight me a bit more.

Mama, even if your orchids wither for autumn is in the air, yet I, your Violet Orchid stay!