tranquilart

August


Marveling


Abundance


Discern


Awakening


Noble


Wales/Aug/2009

Labels: Ramadan

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 7:32 PM 0 tranquil comments

For how long will His creatures distract you?
When will you only be for Him?

I have a vast hope in Allah and He will ascend to a lofty station.
Someone who is true in his hopes will ascend to this lofty station.
O you who has a heart that understands, take these precious, glistening gems and seek knowledge (taqwa), learn these knowledges for those who fear Allah and have hearts that are clean and pious, this is where knowledge should be sought.

Get on the ship,
Come take these pearls and gems and all knowledge –
Emerge for the spring of Al Mustafa (the last aspiration).

The one who ascended above the seventh heaven.
Every station is below our Seyyedi, and you pick from his fruits.
His station will be manifest on the Day of Rising.
Accept these valuable gems that will be taken into the hearts of those who understand.

Wednesday 16th July 2008



Nothing is greater than nearness to God.

19th July 2008 4.20pm



I made you my wealth and source of hope at death.
And when truth comes –
On the Day of Rising be there for me O son of Amina.
O you teasure-chest overlook my ship for indeed I’m bankrupt and I’ve got nothing that I’d seek refuge other than you.
So be a source of aid and protection for me.
Whenever the doves fly or the stars move in orbit or clouds give rain.

Sunday 20th July 2008 4.30pm



I disobey my lower self and satan by strength of God, not by my own self.

21st July 2008 4.43pm



Rectify your balance.
Calibrate your scales.
You don’t have to leave things; get a balance.

22nd July 2008 4.20pm



Act out of love.

Act like someone with a vision.

Our deeds must be based on love.

23rd July 2008 4.30pm



All you have is what’s in front of you.

Thursday 24th July 2008 4.10pm



Know that your days are few,
will any of these days return to us?

If your soul is vile, you cannot get another soul.

We have few days and each of us have one soul.

You only have one heart.
You only have one soul.
God didn’t make anyone with more than one soul.

Remove the junk from your mind and replace with this – it’s the best knowledge.
If the vessel is full of filth, how can you put good into it.

Come even if you don’t deserve it.

I regretted what I did and I sought from my Lord and He accepted me.

Sunday 27th July 2008



Nothing can happen until the Master orders.

Every management is for God.
He provides for every creature.

Anything that has been portioned out for you will reach you.
..Anything even if its in the depths of the oceans.
O Allah give us a vast provision.

If a slave were to run –
where could he run?

4th August 2008 4.20pm

Labels: Advice, Dowra

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 8:53 PM 0 tranquil comments

Let so and so, the son of so and so stand to be presented to Allah.
With all his intentions and everything his heart encompassed,
And with his eyes and all they gazed,
And with his hands and all they reached,
And with his feet and all they stood,
And with all his circumstances, the inward and the outward affairs –
Let them come to stand before Allah.


Inspect or search for the intention of your inner being out of care and concern because that’s the only soul you have, lest it be destroyed.
You only have one soul.

Tuesday 1st July 2008 4.34pm



And the angels give them glad-tidings, and the first is the angel who takes the soul, then the one in the grave.


Suspect oh my brother, yourself.
Suspect it most.
The worst veil between God and man is his lower self.


Someone drank a goblet of caprice and it made him forget his intellect:
he gave the lower self a status it didn’t deserve.


The days the hearts were attached to the Lord were good.

2nd July 2008



If you saw the tears that fell when he prostrated you’d see the effects of God.

3rd July 2008 4pm



Purify yourself.
Purify the lower self from defilement.

4th July 2008 4pm



Some of you are trials for others.
Most of the trials for a servant is from people.


In the night when everyone would be alone with his beloved, the Prophet would stand for tahajud.


Pay attention to yourself.


Allah knows the trick of the eye.


Try to ponder over your act because of the desire of prestige and people.
Good deeds can be ruined with diseases of the heart.

5th July 2008



Desire is worse than seventy devils.


Be weary of the lower self.
When one looks for excuses for himself, this is deception from the lower self, and will keep you in a hole.
Get out of the hole.
The caprice of the lower self sees the mistakes of others and magnifies them.


You take it (lower self) to account for 2 minutes and then leave it for 5 weeks – what’s this?


Avoid people who can’t benefit you and you can’t benefit them.

6th July 2008



If you persisted in directing yourself, the light would manifest in you.
He (God) would expand the horizons for you through this light.


You untied the knot of caution and became laxed.
Tighten the knot of caution – do not be negligent.


The humble sinner is closer to God than the arrogant worshipper.


The difficulty of obedience is greater than the difficulty of sin.


Rivers of harshness spring forth in your heart – you have no compassion or mercy.
And you want others to magnify mercy to you.
Why are you like this?

7th July 2008 4.15pm



In your struggle and your patience, what footsteps have you taken for your struggle.


Ego loves dignity and love of position.
The love of leadership is dangerous.

9th July 2008 4.10pm



The Prophet said:
Don’t be like so and so who used to stand in the middle of night then left it.


Following desire and caprice will destroy your life: this world and the hereafter.


In every single prayer, things have affected me in thinking of other than Him; being heedless.
How many years and not even one prayer was perfect for You?


Inspect yourself...
Inspect yourself at time of motivation and aspiration.


When people speak ill of you, do you get offended?


Do you love for your friend and enemy the same?
This is sincere good will.
If you want less for your friend and even less for the enemy – is this good will?


When you look at someone’s sin, look at your own sin and hate yourself for it.
In the interest of the soul.
It’s slaughtering of the lower self.

12th July 2008 4.10pm



It’s prohibited for you to see yourself above others.
You have no permission from the Keeper of the souls.

13th July 2008 4.14pm



The lower self deceives the individual to speak about deeds, even if you did them 10 years ago!

14th July 2008 4.10pm



Have the highest of intentions and have many of them.


Caprice and lower self uproot the fruit of the good deed.


You do the deed, the caprice and lower self benefit because you are following them.
You think it’s the sweetness of the deed – but it’s not.


The lower self finds anything sweet – even worship.
Be weary of that at the beginning of your deeds.
Inspect your intentions.
Be mindful of finding an honest desire.
What will God say?
Forget about everyone else.
Straighten your attention to Him.
Correct our intentions our Lord.


And the Shaykh said:
Every candle I lit for other than God, blow it out.


My heart desires a meeting in the Valley of Purity with the elect people of God-fearingness.
How excellent such a meeting is?

15th July 2008 4.15pm



The inspiration for this entry came from a chat about gardening last week whilst I went to mentor the two teens at a local school. My link at the school asked how I was progressing with greenstuff and I replied I wasn’t really sure what to call a weed and mentioned how mum would pull this one weed out which I actually liked. She told me that it’s an actual weed which will strangle the plants if it isn’t pulled out…

These photographs illustrate what she meant.

I pulled it out earlier yesterday.
Indeed the gardening of the soul is not an easy affair.

Labels: Advice, Dowra

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 1:04 PM 7 tranquil comments

Wow I thought – it isn’t very often that I come across decently-priced square headscarfs! I drew myself closer to the opened door; to touch and feel the fabric.. my glance fell upon the shop-keeper: a senior figure, with a grey beard. I knew that face I thought.

I knew who he was and asked him if he used to teach Quran.


Of course he did – he was my Ustaad-Ji.

He asked me if I was the daughter of so-and-so, mentioning dad’s name. I‘m glad I have some parental resemblance.

I said thank you to him for teaching me.
He had a very calm aura and asked if all my siblings had learnt from him – I confirmed bar one, the youngest.

He had no sign of pride rather a hidden sense of contentment.
Humility.


A couple of years ago as I was re-gaining my health and trying to move forward I had a sudden desire to find this man and thank him. I just felt life was far too short for putting it off. I look back at those times sometimes and see them as great days wherein I had the opportunity to make many mends, in tireless ways.

I had wandered onto the street where his house was: in the hope of knocking his door and saying thanks to him. I couldn’t remember exactly which one was his house and didn’t want to stand around staring at people’s properties for too long. I made more than one visit, in the hope of some success. I must admit I was very disappointed at not being able to have remembered. I suppose it had been a long stretch of time since the mid-80s when I used to attend?


Yesterday after this surprising incident, I thought about God Almighty. How He has allowed for the many wishes and requests of mine to be fulfilled. I really shouldn’t miss an opportunity to wish for more I thought.

Labels: gratitude, Quran, Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 11:37 AM 2 tranquil comments

Labels: Gaza

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 1:51 PM 0 tranquil comments

Labels: 2008, Reflection, Review

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 8:02 PM 0 tranquil comments

I wrote some of my Hajj memoirs about 18 months after returning.

Much of what happens during the days of Hajj is beyond articulation. It took almost 3 months to 'settle' back. I remember taking so many additional holidays from work, and opting to take my teaching modules during evenings because of the intrusive ripples this trip had created within me.

I have already spoken about the period of time that this trip happened in and how it came about almost 2 months before departing.

During these 6 years so much has happened. So many times I have even questioned whether I actually performed this trip or not. Did I ever visit the ancient Abrahamic lands?


However, with the passing of time..

as hopes are wavered and challenges arrive at the doorstep -


as plans are shaken and new dreams are formed -


as stability slips and opportunities embrace my life -

as optimism becomes questionable and grace is restored -

as confidence drops and blessings increase -

as tears fall and light is received -

I am reassured that the Hajj has truly been my 'Journey of a Lifetime' and my life will never be the same again.



The following was published in Spring 2005:


It was the last day at Mecca and we had to leave for the City of The Prophet soon after the third Jummah (Friday) prayers at the Grand Mosque.

I didn’t want to go.

As we sat on the coach and the head count began, the engine roared and the vehicle started to move. I opened the Qur’an and started to read the words; words which I hoped would comfort the deeply saddened heart. Tears rolled from my cheeks, there was a gradual build up of heaviness in my eyes as they filled with clouds of grief.

Mum held my hand tightly as the vehicle turned around the corner and the beautiful minars (minarets) of the Grand Mosque were no longer in view. My mum kept consoling me but even she didn’t know what to say. Since this departure was, for me the departing of the lover from the beloved.

I had spent the last three weeks in the safety of the House Of God and become very fond of this large cubic structure covered in the traditional black cloth with beautiful embroidery. To an onlooker, it was a mere black cube. But I had felt a deep sense of comfort whenever my gaze fell upon it. I would often go and watch the hundreds of people go round and round the Kabah, and think how in life we also just kept going round and round, at many times pretty aimless with no direction, focus or goal.

This structure, built by the hands of man, was a manifestation of mans’ duty to his Lord. The majestic beauty of this sacred monument had been enchanting for me. My spirit had felt exhilarated in the presence of the vicinity of the four walls of this cubic structure. Every hardship I had ever encountered; every spiritual mishap I had confronted; and every insecurity I had ever felt had flashed before my eyes as I stood staring at the majesty of my Lords’ House. In one moment the entirety of my life had appeared before me. My deeds had appeared insignificant as I realised the essence of His Mercy; for I had been invited as a Guest of God Almighty. And there is no doubt He is the Best Host.

I had fell in love with the warmness of the sunshine at Mecca. The steps we had taken around the Kabah whilst doing the tawaf (circumbulation) in the hope of attaining salvation. Our feet had gaited in the hope of finding answers to the problems which beseech our worlds. The prayers we had made for the world and all that is within it. The wetness of our faces as we had lifted our hands for the welfare of humanity. How I had taken a handful of sand on the Plains of Arafaat and wanted so desperately to perish into it; in the hope of finding myself.

The flow of the human ocean; and to be part of the drop; the fleeing from the world of ignorance; and the finding of the peace I had so long longed for; I felt like a traveller who had travelled throughout my life in hope of finding something which would comfort the empty feelings of not knowing myself. There were harmonious rhythmic beats in my heart, which it felt, only now had started to pump blood around my body. As if, almost, before it – it had been a lifeless body with an organ weighed down with grief and altered perceptions about reality; about life itself.

And now it was all over.

How days had crept upon us; almost as if I had never acknowledged I would have to leave this city. The deep sense of comfort and security I had felt in this noble city can only be comparable to the foetal safety felt within the womb of the mother. But now it was time for the deliverance of this newborn and this transition was not going to be an easy one; though no doubt it had to happen. So I sat reading these words from my Creator; in the hope they would put a perspective to how I felt. My tears still rolling; my mum still holding my hand; by this time even our dear group members had turned to see my wet face.

Everyone though had a sad look on their faces; as if we had lost someone very dear to us. A cloud of quietness had filled the coach; previously when we had gone to visit the sites of religious significance such as the Mountain of Mercy and so forth, the group had been lively and cheerful; laughing, joking and even teasing the group leader. There were always 3 coaches which carried the people from our group. It so happened that we sat in the same seating arrangements every time we went out! This showed just how deeply the group members had become bonded in the spirit of brotherhood and oneness. And the brotherhood and unity is best seen in the camps of Mina where our tent had been placed in the midst of Americans, Australians and Dagestanis.

After a while I had fell asleep in my mum's lap. Mum had throughout this hajj journey been a source of comfort to me; always taking my head and resting it between her lap – just like a mother only can. The warmness of her maternal kindness had made me appreciate the huge sacrifices a parent makes for the child. She had comforted me just like a newborn is looked after. I must have entered deep sleep, for when I awoke we were on the outskirts of Medina.

I felt a sudden sense of numbness. It was soon time for Fajr, and I heard the beautiful call to prayer – very different from the call we had been used to in Mecca. We rushed to prayer and upon our return went to our hotel rooms. We were all too tired and fell asleep. They say the sleep in Medina is of a specific nature; a deep, peaceful sleep.

I still felt sad, I felt out of place, a bit like entering a new realm. I was quiet. I didn’t know what to say. It was Maghrib time and we went to the Prophets’ Mosque.

As I sat outside with the beautiful minarets in view. I could see the sky turning into lilac, pink and purple. The sight was amazing.

It was mystic.

It wasn’t real.

I kept on telling mum; mum its not real. It can’t be. Its just too… well too beautiful to be real.

But oh no – it was real alright. This was Medina; and I had been a fool. A fool to think that I wouldn’t love Medina. I took the camera on the second Maghrib prayer and captured this moment.



These pictures are from the Kodak days.. way before the digi-world :-) Other pics on this Beebs Gallery.

Labels: Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 12:03 PM 3 tranquil comments

Labels: Dowra, Muslim Women

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 7:44 PM 4 tranquil comments

A couple of weeks ago I was officially discharged from the Outpatient's Department.


As alot of well-wishers have been enquiring about my health in recent months. Here is a little Q & A about the affair:


1. So what does this mean?

Well for starters it means that I no longer am under the care of a consultant for my wrist or elbow concluding an epoch of referrals which began 3.5 years ago. It also means I am no longer being treated by the Medical Profs for anything.


2. Why have you been discharged?

Quite simply put: there is nothing that the meds can do for me.


3. Why not?

Because I don’t have a worsening condition.


4. Didn’t you have arthritis in your wrist?

I had an episode of arthritis in my wrist but there is no arthritic process continuing.


5. Are you cured then?

Your guess is as good as mine.


6. What next?

The vastness of God’s Creation holds no limits to what is possible.



I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this process. So many people have helped me that I know I will always fall short of acknowledging their favours. May God Almighty make me a faithful slave and a grateful human being.




A trip down memory lane:

Review - 2005

Review - 2006

Review - 2007

Artist acknowledgement:
Original artwork by Curly aged 6, Sept 2008 ;-)

Labels: Health

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 8:56 PM 2 tranquil comments

Over the last few years, admittedly I have spent more time on DP than others due to my situation. I think I also have the highest number of posts counting over 7300. Often I have bumped into individuals who have commented on my posting; sometimes with a hint of sarcasm and other times with a genuine interest.


I have at times felt uncomfortable when people have thrown one-liners about my posting habits in an otherwise civilised chat about life. I have found it extremely difficult to grasp at those times when we have been in environments where others are also present or when I have met people after ages or worse still when I have gone out after spending a long while indoors. This was moreso the case a couple of years ago. And sometimes I have found it not nice coming from people 5-10 years younger than me: I am not a teenager, rather someone 30 plus.

I've never really tried to explain myself because I believe that there is no need for explaining my actions to others, who afterall are happily reading what I may post. In fact at times when I haven't posted on DP I have been emailed or texted as to why. I have found it confusing to deal with, especially during the times when my main concern was my health and managing pain.

I've always convinced myself that my Prophet teaches me to make excuses for people when they say things one doesn't like. I have thus assumed that those who when I've met them have made sarcastic remarks to me are just not aware of the function DP has had in my life these last few years. And I hope to continue with this thinking.



I have learnt a lot on this website and it has helped me grow in many ways. No doubt the time since Feb 2005 has been an incredibly challenging one for me. However, I have been the recipient of many blessings through it. Too many to share here. I just received the following email which is one reason why I keep posting on DP:


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ********@hotmail.com
To: tranquilart
Subject: Salams
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:54:59 +0000

As Salam O Alaikum Apa

I pray that your well inshallah. I took your emil from deenport.
Although Im not active on deenport I follow thethreads and events on there. I just wanted
to say a big Jazakllah Kheyr for all the advice and support you offer. I was touched by your advice
and support you and many others gave to a sisiter a few days ago. May Allah reward you all immensly and may allah shower you with his mercy and blessings. Ameen

I wanted to ask if you would remember me in you duaas too. I hope you dont mind me calling you apa.

My apologies for the random email which may sound very strange. Ive been meaning to email you for a while and today i thought Idont care how strange i may sound im going to emil my apa and ask her to remebr her sister in her duaas.

Wasalam
Needy of your duaas
*******

P.s. please keep in touch

It's something I have said before: about why I blog.

So this blog post is not to inflate my ego or give my lower self the time of the day.

NO!

I know that I could and should write about the many many great things I have learnt thanks to Omar Tufail's dynamic website. However, some things are best preserved for another time and space. My sincere prayers are that on the Day of Accounts, Omar Tufail and his loved ones are greeted with the billions and billions of mountains of hope that his website was responsible for creating through the opportunity it generated for servitude by dots in creation like myself.


Something I intend to blog from the Dowra Sharing at some point is the importance of the blessings we have all been given in life. One of the first things we were taught was that if we don't use our blessings for the good of humanity, then these blessings will be taken away from us.



Like you, I fear that one day soon I shall be in my grave. In fact my 6 year old niece made me think last night. We were speaking about when she grows up and she said: " You will be dead then!" and I asked her if she would miss me to which she replied that she would...



I think about all the blessings and gifts I have wasted and have not put to good use. One day will come when I won't have the ability, time or opportunity to make a posting.

So if one post of mine on DP has been well-recieved by anyone and given them a sense of direction then I can justify the remaining 7300 plus.

I think that is fair enough right?



www.deenport.com


PS - oh yeah.. I've made a lot of friends through DP too!

Labels: gratitude, Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 12:25 PM 6 tranquil comments

I wrote a while ago about how I was looking forward to the day I could wear Henna or Mehndi on my hands again.

Well,
guess what?

This Eid I was able to get some henna on my hands ..

OK so I didn't risk the palm, but hey it's still something :-)

I did get a telling off from mum for these pics - she said if I turned them upside-down they would be a swear.. LOL



The tranquilart butterfly or bird?

About to take off for flight!


Inspired by sunflowers or the circles of knowledge?

Hmm..


No No - I still have 2 hands..

This was not mine!


The 'Merry Trio' ..!


All Praises to God Almighty for the ability to wear henna on these hands again.

He gives us signs from amongst our own selves so we may stop, think and reflect.

How many gifts have we received from Him?

And how sincere have we been in using them for their true purpose?


Thank you... for Henna,
for hands,
for cameras,
for giggles,
for uploading,
for sharing,
for typing,
for seeing,
for all these and much more.



Alhamdulila Wa'l Shukr Allah.

Labels: Eid, gratitude, Wrist

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 9:50 PM 0 tranquil comments

How does one deal with the loss of someone who has helped in their healing process?

Last month I heard that whilst I was away in Yemen, one of my yoga instructors died after collapsing during a session. She was in hospital for a week or so but there was no sign of recovery, she didn’t gain consciousness.

Her name was Madhu Bhen (bhen means sister in Hindi and is used as a suffix to the name, so isn’t exactly part of the name as such). I have been attending yoga classes since last summer with a largely Asian group of women. Madhu Bhen wasn’t my usual tutor. Earlier this year, my tutor went away to India for a long break and Madhu Bhen took over from her along with her friend. She was in her mid 60s and I remember after our first session I came home to tell my family how flexible she was at her age.


She was also the one who taught me a valuable lesson:

At the end of one session she told us all to pat ourselves on the back and added: that this is because you have “taken time out for yourselves”. I almost felt like crying when she said this. It was so true. From there onwards I realised that she was right in a weird way. We do so much for others, there is little time left for us. It is only through going to yoga that I became so conscious of the value of a single breath.


After finding out about her death, I didn’t know how to react. I thought about the many people who have helped me in terms of my wellbeing.

There have been a lot of people who I have had to see in these last few years (and earlier) who said things which helped me cope with how I was feeling. For anyone who has had to see anyone regards their health, you will be familiar with the dynamics of power and trust which exist alongside the process of handing yourself over to some ‘expert’. It isn’t an easy thing and we all have varying experience of it.


In positive interaction, such relationships can yield a lot of important lessons and it is not uncommon for a gem or two to be passed by the one who you are with. I for one have received many useful pieces of advice from the various people I have had to see for health reasons. Some of this advice may sound like a random sentence or selection of words strung together but because it was said in a context of healing and wellbeing it has continued to be a source of comfort and motivation.


These are people who are not one’s friends, teachers, colleagues or family. They are close enough strangers who you trust to look after you during the period of time you are with them. On the one hand these are normal people carrying out the assigned duties in their chosen job. On the other hand amongst them are those who have higher aspirations and want to make a difference to people they interact with.


They are direct beneficiaries in the good results which come about through following their advice. And this is why the loss of such people from one’s life makes one stop and think. The Ultimate source of Healing is the Creator, but these people are the means so kindly placed in our road to wellbeing. The energy to do comes from Him, but they are people who have influenced the perception we give to that energy.


My question still stands:

How does one deal with the loss of someone who has helped in their healing process?

Labels: Health, Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 4:27 PM 5 tranquil comments

If

a day

goes

past

without

an increase

in eeman,

then it's better

that the sun

didn't

rise

And

this is better

than the rising

of the sun

and

the sun

has

risen

all over

the

earth

Sitting here today thinking about Hababa's advice, I feel as awe-stricken now as I did whilst sitting in front of her on that day. Indeed one of the tragic misfortunes for me as a woman is the absence of such women in my immediate world. I intend to write some thoughts on this aspect of the trip at some point. God Willing. But for now, my prayer: May God Almighty preserve our beloved teacher & give us all the opportunity to learn from her oceanic being. Amen.

Images: taken whilst returning back to the Dowra House after Asr prayers at the Dar Az-Zahra.

Labels: Advice, Dowra, Muslim Women

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 3:09 PM 3 tranquil comments

An invaluable service awaits thee..



guild room 7 is the name of the blog of the Muslim Chaplains at U of B.

A fortunate place where both a male and female are available for contact.


Related URL

Labels: Chaplaincy, University

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 11:20 PM 2 tranquil comments

Over the last several Eids I have been fortunate to receive E-Cards from an individual who is also on a creative journey of sorts.

Every Eid without fail I get an email greeting and it reminds me of the Prophetic counsel that we should thrive in the continuity of our good actions. It is pointless in doing alot and then nothing at all in our attempts to conquer the perfection of our conduct and relationship with God Almighty. It is far better to continue with the little things daily than a massive task with no sustainability.

As we depart Ramadan, let us continue to keep alive the spirit by maintaining one or two key things we have learnt, and by letting-go of one or two of the not-so-nice traits we all possess.

Wishing everyone an Accepted Ramadan and many more generous ones to come. Eid Mubarak and Prayers of Peace for all x x x


08 January 2006 16:24:15
















22 October 2006 15:02:20




















09 October 2007 12:10:23




















16 December 2007 17:53:15















28 September 2008 16:09:32
















Teakster's Website

Labels: Eid

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 3:54 PM 0 tranquil comments

A selection of projects well worth supporting..


Zaytuna Institute


Private Study Donation


Amal Press


Supporting MySQL engineer's Son

Supporting Accident Victim Donation


The Halimah Trust


Ash-Shifa School

Kitaba - Texts for the Blind


The Inheritor's Fund



Or any other charity of your choice:

Labels: Charity Projects

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 6:00 PM 0 tranquil comments

Because I have two numbers, I had gone through several gadgets with my second number in this duration but this loyal piece of metal was with me since 2004. To be honest I was initially upset to the loss of all those text messages which have accompanied me in this journey since 2004.



Messages I got from colleagues; all the New Year wishes: 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.


Messages whilst I was sick from 2005 onwards: people telling me how failure doesn't exist; how there is a God who looks after us all; that we should be happy to be the Ummah of a Beloved Prophet; that great things are in store for me from the Provider of all.


Messages from people when I met them for the first time after our conversations on Deenport.


Messages when I went to Pakistan in 2006 and then to the Rihla in Saudi; and then to Yemen more recently; well-wishers saying goodbye; praying there come from these trips many openings for me.


Messages from people who I was fortunate to spend time with after meeting them at places, and then the same people texting a year later to remind me God Almighty introduced us.


Messages from people who got my number either online or from others; asking me if they can do anything to help me and assist me in what God Almighty had Planned for me.


Messages from people having given birth to their newborns; sharing their joy with me.


Messages from my Agency the first day I re-started paid employment after my 18 month sick-note; echoing messages before from generous souls reminding me that my skills won't perish so easily.


Messages from supporters telling me not to be upset when vile comments were posted about The Noble Man on this blog.


Messages from people texting me Fridays; then those texting me in Ramadan.


Messages from the Sacred of places; those on their way to the tents of Mina; those inviting me for a cuppa in Medina and those in Tarim.


Messages containing prayer after prayer after prayer.


Messages I looked through again and again as these years have gone by.


I could go on and on..


Yes I was upset to lose all this.


But then I thought about how grateful I have been that I had the opportunity to receive all these messages in the first place. How much must God Almighty Care for me, that He gave me so so many wonderful people in my life to show their concern for me at times when I have felt ever so little. He gave me people to help me get the balance right whenever I was on edge.


I am truly lucky.
Honest.

Alhamdulila Wa'l Shukr Allah.


I pray in earnest that all those who have supported me through these last 3.5 years which have been some of the most challenging ones are rewarded for their text messages.


I pray in earnest that their support be Written as Sadaqa Jariya for in this little screen of a mobile phone I saw hope, cheer and clarity when I needed it.


I pray in earnest that on the Day of Accounts, if their deeds are light in their scales, then these acts of kindness be shown to all those people: magnified as large as mountains.. for they helped a servant of God Almighty in the most incredible of ways.


The day is gone but the memories remain.


And that is what really counts.
Seriously.
That memory and the accompanied feeling of happiness; to have been a recipient of that love is something which will stay with me long after my Nokia 6230 has been recycled.


Peace and Prayers

Jummah Greetings.

Labels: gratitude, Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 10:56 PM 2 tranquil comments

Each place has it's own vocabulary and when seen through the lens of diversity, it helps you appreciate the richness that exists in this world.

Hopefully this post will ensure minimal confusion when using these terms in future writings.

Habib means Beloved.
God's Greatest Beloved, al-Habib al-A'zam, is one of the Prophet's names.

Al-Habib came to be the title of the Husayni sharifs [descendants of the Prophet] of Hadramawt, the Ba-Alawi Seyids, from the 11th century of the Hijra onwards.

The female equivalent of Habib is a Hababa.
I recall the giggles when I first heard that term in mid-June as I telephoned students of the Habaib [ie the collective]. A Hababa is not just a title for a woman, rather an honorific and symbolic term of description. Both terms are used, not to indicate a mere blood relationship with the Prophet Alaislam, but to enable us to formulate an appropriate conduct whilst in their presence.


A good book for introductory reading which highlights a historical context of the Habaib is this one here


>>>>>>>>>>>


It also introduces the genealogy which is very important so one can truly appreciate the background of the Habibs and Hababas.



Here is a little bit of information about 3 of the teachers who we learnt from.

Labels: Dowra

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 12:47 PM 0 tranquil comments

On 2nd July, our first Wednesday, we were taught that Wednesday is a special day. Our Ustada (teacher & mentor) gave us the following invaluable sharing:

- between Zuhr and Asr the prayer is mustajab (answered) because it is the day that the Battle of Badr took place and God Almighty gave victory to the Prophet Alaislam

- it is also the day that the 'light' of the Prophet Alaislam was created

- thus if you want to start a project that you want to see completed, in whatever sphere of existence (deen or dunya) ie of religion or of world, then it is a good day to commence

Roof-top views from our 'Big Dowra House'

Labels: Dowra

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 11:09 AM 3 tranquil comments

Before going out I didn't expect to learn so much about women.

Al-Shaykha Sultana bint 'Ali al-Zubaydy was well known for her piety, knowledge and teachings in the 15th Century in Hadramaut.

Only info online is here.

She wasn't from the family of the Prophet Alaislam but because of her love for the Prophet she was chosen as an awliya.

She would send Salawat (Praises) to the Prophet Alaislam in abundance and was an extremely modest woman. It is said that she was one of the few who would see the Messenger in her dreams so much. Whenever she had a query she would get an answer quite immediately.


Upon death she was 17/18 years old. It is customary to visit her on the last Monday of every (lunar) month.

Labels: Dowra, Muslim Women

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 3:17 PM 3 tranquil comments

You are here again - Great to see ya mate!

Lookin' forward to spendin some quality time wiv ya..



Links:

Daily Ramadan Thoughts I did a while ago

Daily Prayers from a fellow blogger

Advice from our teacher in Yemen

Advice from our teacher in Yemen but when he came to Woking

Advice, but this time from our teachers across the pond in California

Advice from alot of teachers everywhere


And once you have read the above, a little something I was told recently: that make the aim to attain newer understandings from the Quran this Ramadan. Remember; there is no comprehensive commentary on it, indicating how vast an ocean it is.

Peace & Prayers
x x x x x x x x x

Labels: Ramadan

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 6:43 PM 3 tranquil comments

Not only do I hate ironing, I can prove it:

As I was doing my tidy-up today

I looked at my scarves

and realised how many of them are burnt

and so, feeling a little silly

I decided to snap away

but then I realised

that there were way too many

which were burnt

I couldn't believe it

and thoughts wandered elsewhere

at the creation of God Almighty Most High

who Created the Heavans

and the earth

and all that exists in between

and He Most Powerful, also Created

The Hellfire.

I pray He, Most Wise & Lord of Mercy

Protects and keeps us all,

The Children of His Noble Prophet Adam Alaislam

free from even the smoke and smell of Fire.

And enters us all into Heavan by His Great Kindness.

Amen.

Allahumma Ajirna min-an-naar [x7] O Allah, protect us from the fire.

Labels: Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 5:17 PM 9 tranquil comments

The recipe is available from the official kid's site: Foundation TV.













It's great fun for kids - whatever their age, making for interesting, alternative activities and gifts.

Labels: Bath Bombs, Children's Activities, Gift Ideas

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 1:28 PM 0 tranquil comments

Disclaimer - I had no input on the choice of images.

Labels: Muslim Women, Students, University

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 9:29 PM 0 tranquil comments

They have spent an entire lifetime in yearning to recite, or in the very least to be able to make the sounds of the letters which form the sacred words. They have spent countless hours focused on the letters, watching the mouths of recitors move as the tongue dances to the coming together of that which forms the Message. Many nights did they spend in Ramadan with ears attentively listening to the Imam's recital during Tarawi Prayer; the 30-day completion of the entire recitation would be the annual gift they would receive so proudly. To have made that connection with the sacred once more, they would wait for next Ramadan in earnest: just to hear those words which neither man nor jinn could compose the like of.

Many would spend the days without congregational prayers and await the Friday so they could once more listen to even a little portion of the Quran. The Quran which they kept on the highest shelf: with nothing else above it not even another book. All the while the desire to read and take from this Book becoming greater, sometimes too much for their beings to cope with, during which times they would wash their bodies and hold the Quran; turning the pages with weeping eyes and a heavy heart, praying with their entirety that they be given the great fortune to read what it says.

Some inviduals braved the odds and began their journey of learning the Quran. This write-up speaks about a few barriers and their accompanying solution which may prevent some adults in their 50s plus from starting a learning regime:

1. Lack of Provision

There are not many places which teach adult members of our community. Adults cannot be expected to sit in classes with children.

Solution: Provision of sessions for adults.


2. Respect The Age Factor

Youngsters learned in Quranic sciences such as recitation and tajwid are not always equipped with the gentleness towards people who have not necessarily had those opportunities. This deters older people from pursuing their learning or even enquiring about tuition available. It’s not easy for Grandpa and Grandma to practise the alphabet when everyone else is reciting like nightingales in their midst!

Solution: We should acknowledge that we have all had different advantages and disadvantages in life. To an extent we are the result of this. If we see this through the lens of Divine Planning then we realise that we all have very distinct journeys. So if our journeys are distinct, then so too are the points at which we learn specific things. If we come across someone who has not had the life opportunities that we have, then shouldn’t we ‘lower the wing of humility’?


3. Passing Judgement

Following on from the above is the speed at which many individuals can pass judgement on those who have not yet learnt what may be termed as the ‘basic’ stuff. Some people can wonder how someone going into their senior years has still not learnt how to pray or in this case read the Quran. Stop.

Solution: Stop wondering about the life others have lived and think about what you can do to make a difference or aid them. A word of encouragement goes a long way, and if one is unable to do that then a silent prayer will speak a thousand encouraging sentiments. We simply have no right to investigate the private lives of other people.


4. Learner Styles

Sometimes we can overlook the fact that we all have different styles of learning! Odd as it seems we seldom think that this may be the case with adult learners.

Solution: Maximise modern technological advances and utilise appropriate resources such as audio recitations of the Quran. Encourage learners to become familiar with certain passages by providing listening material. Hopefully this will initiate familiarity with the Quran and will help motivate learners who are finding it difficult. Essentially we should never forget that those working to do something with difficulty are not the same as those who face fewer struggles (as learners).


These were just a few thoughts on the subject of adult learners attempting to read the Quran for the first time. Inspired by my dad’s recent completion of the Book and the discussion it generated. I am sure that there are many more ways we can encourage adults on their learning journey. My aim was to initiate a dialogue and get a discourse started on this important issue present within our communities.

Late Spring 2008


Image: Qurans in a Mosque in Tarim, July 2008

This write-up is one of many which has been kindly typed by volunteer typists. Please say a silent prayer for them and their families.

Labels: Learning, Quran

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 12:04 PM 2 tranquil comments

Labels: Kara, Wrist

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 1:14 PM 0 tranquil comments

I intend to share a few things with you all.. and the first of these is the advice I was given: that not everything should be shared.

I am still very giddy and off to rest so leave you to enjoy my neighbour Ethar's blog who was in a room across me.

Labels: Dowra

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 2:38 PM 2 tranquil comments

complete my debts and renew my belief..

& prepare to get into another state.

Fee Aman Allah,

Peace & Prayers.

Useful URL

Labels: Dowra, Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 6:44 PM 0 tranquil comments

Love because it gives us meaning; purpose; or something to do with our time, in the crudest sense.

Hate for sucking away our energies and vacuuming clean our ‘free times’.

The presence of routine brings feelings of worthiness, value, pride on the one hand, and boredom, mundanity, repetition on the other. It is my mind’s desire that it get used to a certain routine for stability to appear. Yet the fleeting spirit within me wants to break away from routine to be in sync with the spontaneity that life hails forth.

The fleeting spirit is satisfied to know that routine shall soon be broken, although the rhythm of life continues to keep things afloat.

A break in routine is important and inevitable for the cycle of growth to continue. Why fear it then?

It is amazing that God Almighty so carefully breaks the routine we so joyfully enjoy. Perhaps to teach us that life is more exciting than the mundane; more colour exists than the black and white which routine shapes our sight with. That wherever there is fear for the human being becoming stagnant; a change in pattern, repetition, occurs to highlight the great realization that God Almighty has more in store for us than the routinised cycle of daily events.

This is the way to empower our spirit towards accepting that change is for our betterment. Routine is thus the opposite of change. And a break in it results in change.

Change is necessary for the growth of the spirit and for man to realise his ultimate potential as God’s ambassador.

But what makes change difficult to accept is our unwillingness to understand the true nature of routine.

I read Paulo Coelho say that when we see each day as the same we miss the many miracles around us all the while.

Maybe this is why a natural break in routine should be praised and not cursed.

Routine:
Break it occasionally to see what you are otherwise missing out on. Don’t go to the same place everyday. Speak to someone you haven’t in a while. This will help you stay prepared for the ground-moving moments God sends you unexpectedly.


(Hand-written: 17/3/08 - 15/4/08)

Labels: Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 9:56 PM 2 tranquil comments

Spring 2008

Labels: Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 6:28 PM 3 tranquil comments

Tranquilart is resting or not?

The date is 18th February 2005; it’s Friday. I am teaching a group of adults in the centre of my city at a building site where many individuals recovering from mental illness access services and courses.

I am the only person who wears a headscarf and constitute about 8% of the BME staff here. I’ve been here for a few years; hated this place when I first started. Actually when I first applied for this job one chilling winter, I was rejected on the spot at the interview. Never mind I thought; I got a contract to teach elsewhere. Six months later when the organisation were re-recruiting, they telephoned me and asked if I was still interested. ‘Yeah right’ I thought?! I was preparing a trip to Pakistan that summer and remember being asked for another interview: so much was going on so I thought I’d just pop-by and see what they had to say. It was a hectic week that heated July and I dropped off some exam material and marked papers at the college I was contracted by. As I hugged my manager goodbye for summer, I told her that I had to dash to that place. She asked me if I would take the job, I replied no and we both chuckled at how fate had brought this opportunity round again.

I returned from Pakistan and began that job a day before September 11th 2001.

It was not a full-time position; I hated full-time work. I happily managed to juggle it with my job at the college and felt content that I was cleverly able to keep away from the red tape that exists in the education field.

We’ve had lunch and I go back to the class. I am wearing a bandage on my right wrist: have been doing so for a day or so as my wrist was hurting a little bit. Luckily this is half-term week and I wasn’t working at my other job at the college for most part of the week; just here today. Yesterday I was delivering a workshop at one of the local universities. It was an art workshop. Many student Islamic Societies tend to contact me with regards having art stalls. I tend to paint calligraphic designs onto glass frames and sell them to raise funds for a charity project I am working on. I have this amazing vision that it would be so grand for lots of people to support a single cause and for that reason the prices I sell my work for is very cheap: a few pounds for an average 6” X 4” frame. I’m not too bothered at the moment about developing my work as an artist: the creativity helps me and that’s sufficient for now, no need to worry about developing myself as an artist too much for now I think. I’ve raised over £2000 for the project I have in mind and have about another third to go. I get paid a decent income so I hardly care about the prices.

I am also hoping to raise funds for the purchase of some baby equipment at the local maternity hospital, and for this reason I have been trying to launch a ‘Catalogue’ which will allow me to reach out to a wider audience. I am hoping to include the photography I did in Granada in that catalogue. The photos were exhibited about 3 months ago at an exhibition I organised in this city. So much is going on; I need to contact my website designer Shaeed to ask if the site will be ready for launch next week or not. The website is up and running but it’s a new page and gallery he is setting up for me. There’s loads of queries I need to answer. My new manager at the college is asking me where he should send a cheque to support my work. I need to email him my postal address at some point. Work have been great with everything. Most of my colleagues in both organisations are not Muslim. But they have been there ever since my creative phenomena emerged in 2001. They helped me with feedback regards my website design and layout, proofreading the content on there, looking through various domain names for me: we settled with “tranquilart” after going through so many names. And I think the 20 or so people who were regularly bombarded with emails for domain names are perhaps now relieved that we have finally got a name!

The afternoon session is progressing well; we’re in an IT room and the group members are learning to empower their being by controlling these machines. The ability to learn to operate a machine when one is feeling very low in esteem or confidence has been cited by some as a way of attaining control, power and focus. I have certainly seen that many people feel a sense of achievement when they can use a computer. Most of my students are dosed with medication of all sorts. We call them ‘clients’ aswell as students. I have seen many kinds of clients whilst being in this building: people with depression and anxiety disorders are very common as too are those with Schizophrenia. I’ve seen women who have postnatal depression and individuals who are recovering from bereavement. I’ve seen victims of abuse and met some who were doing their PhDs before they became psychotic. But my world really changed the year I met some young people under 20 who had their first psychotic episode as post school-leavers. It was also at this time that I met individuals who were caught for petty crimes as teenagers and sent to prison, just to become entrenched in the cycle of depression. Actually I have now met a handful of men under 25 who are here from probation services.

I also was surprised to bump into a school friend the other month who is ‘mentally unwell’ now and will soon be joining us for some courses or training. Most people I work with are white ethnically, although I have had a sprinkle of clients who are not. There were a handful of Muslims I taught here: a couple of converts aswell. Life is so fragile. The history of mental health in the UK is interesting. It is also interesting to know about the Mental Health Asylum in this city and what happened when it closed. What happened to the clients?

The pain in my right hand is actually getting quite bad now.

I notify my manager that I may need a Paracetamol to control the pain; especially if I am to complete my class. My line manager is great. We all get on like a house on fire in this department. We have had a fair amount of the people-politics but we also do the usual things any team does: sharing problems, shopping tips, holiday tips, cooking tips, the annual Christmas lunch, and oh a reminder to bring in cakes for your own birthday! My line manager is shocked: she knows how I very rarely take medication for things. Actually, I am very rarely off work. I only ever had a couple of days off work due to sickness: a migraine that lasted until the next day and so I couldn’t get into work. I took a few days off work when my grandmother passed away about 3 years ago for compassionate leave and then 2 years ago I had a chunk off for Hajj. I remember when I came back from hajj, I had an awful tummy-ache at work and she said I was bound to pick up bugs from my trip. After vomiting my morning break, she kindly put me in her car and dropped me off home. She knows about my ‘detox plans’ and that I hardly ever take pills. She got me Paracetamol from the other department as we don’t keep it here for health and safety reasons. My colleagues are surprised that I am resorting to this. Finally I complete teaching my class and they wish me well as I head home.

I am able to make an appointment for Monday to see my doctor. My my, it’s gonna be a tough weekend I think. And yes it is. The weekend is awful. I have had more paracetamols this weekend than perhaps in the last year or two.

Monday 21st February 2005 I am signed off work for a week…

The intention of this write-up was to share my life and how things have changed in these 3 years: and that's what I had proposed in my mind this morning. As I started to type this evening, my blog changed and ended up 90% different to what I had thought about this morn. So I guess I will be back quite soon to type what I had mentally prepared for you all :-)

Life is fragile - extremely.

Peace & Prayers x x x x x

Labels: Reflection

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 12:49 AM 3 tranquil comments

Actually you can say am coming down the Mount
I've been successful
Praise to God Most High
Just that the harder bit was towards the end
Before my feet touched the ground
For most part I slid smoothly down
And now I reach my next Peak:
2008 or 1429
Another climb that awaits.


During this blessed season, and as the year draws to an end, I'd like to wish everyone prayers of Peace, Joy and Wellbeing.

Eid & Hajj Greetings.

I want to say thanks to everyone for enquiring regards my health and apologise for not updating folk as I should. I have experienced a good spell of it since Ramadan and it's great to be able to have that after a long period. I am taking a homeopathic remedy which has helped my condition. The last trip to the consultant was about 2 months ago and all is well. Despite having experienced a greater amount of pain in my elbows and wrists this year [due to the damp weather] it is not significant enough to start any conventional pain-reducing treatment. All tests indicate that things are actually quite nice and in good working order inside this physical body of mine! Alhamdulila. All Praises are for God Almighty. There is no real explanation for the pain bar the arthritic episode which occurred in 2005.

There was, and still is no clear habit for the pain. Although I have noticed a little bit of a pattern this year, I am still unsure when the pain will start. There is a cycle of pain and fatigue with varying levels of motivational energy which surrounds my world. Each episode lasts for an undefined term and then goes away. I am unsure what phase is worse: the fatigue phase or the painful one? Or the one wherein I lack motivation or zest? The fatigue has lead to constant naps during daylight hours and the painful one; waking mid-way through my nightly sleep thinking someone is cutting my wrist.

Yep - ever since 2005 that is how my wrist feels in it's 'painful' state: that it is being sawed off.

But it is with extreme happiness and gratitude that I announce the following:
"Currently I am in none of the above."

Recognising limitations and modifying lifestyle is the advice or Treatment Plan I have been offered by my consultant and I have agreed. I believe it will be a boon for me.

My thanks to all readers: friends and foe for taking time to share my world. It is my firm belief that the prayers of the many silent readers, well-wishers and friends give me the strength to continue to move forward. Yes, I really do believe this. When I see myself 'back on my feet' doing 'stuff' I think about the supportive words of the wonderful people I am fortunate to have interacted with: be it in cyber-world, real-world or the world of telecommunications. For me those supportive words have been the key to recovery [whatever that means]. The many gentle, and sometimes forceful reminders from you all have transformed my view of this health crisis into a state of empowerment and self-development. Honest. I know my health will seldom ever be the way it was a few years ago - but I am happy with that now.

There are many things I wanted to blog about this year but it just never happened. I am learning all the while and the processing of this often takes a lot longer than I would like to have it. I continue to jot down thoughts in the hope that some day very soon I will blog it all out. Who knows when that will be?

Thanks also to the patience of those who await a reply to correspondence [email, text, comment here or letter]. You remain in my thoughts: in a nice little space kept well just for you.


In 2005 and 2006 I did a summary of my blogs, keeping with this Tradition here is 2007 in a few sentences :-)

2006 was quite a year, then we started 2007. A death followed by a caravan in the quietness of the 2 year mark and the arrival of the Sacred Birth. The disturbing moon made me serious about mentoring so that I got seriously blogging The Noble Man From Zaytuna despite the Rain. A trip to the shops to buy me some Prayer Beans which is exactly what I needed after the Disturbing Comments. I sought my Spiritual Friends and the Noble Man returned. Autumn arrived as too did my RSI Concerns as I bid farewell to the Old Friend who left me a few Bracelets.


Peace & Prayers
Bint-eh Adam
x x x x x x x

The images are my gardening attempts this year.. ahem :-)

Labels: 2007

# posted by Daughter of Adam @ 4:32 PM 8 tranquil comments