Thursday, June 29, 2017
A Pinch In My Soul
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Hydrangea Hues Thanks To pH Levels!
I grew up knowing what Hydrangeas looked like because we had one in our garden. But I was never sure why ours was more blue than the one down the road which was pink.
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Labels: Garden, gratitude, Reflection
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Tuesday, June 02, 2009
A Surprising Encounter With Ustaad-Ji
Square cotton scarves placed on a plastic hanger on the door caught my attention: £2.
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.
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
words continue here
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Why Do I Post on Deenport?
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!
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
words continue here
Monday, October 20, 2008
Mehndi, Gratitude and a Ha-ha-ha
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.
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.
words continue here
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Farewell: End Of The Nokia 6230 Era
Finally after more than four years, this evening my mobile phone is no more.
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.
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
words continue here
