Maryam, Maryam... oh Maryam

When I was in primary schools, back in the year 1993 to 1998, many of the friends used to tease my name. Rather than Maryam, they would call me MERIAM (which means cannonball in Bahasa Melayu). I was of course hurt by it. Not that I was fat like a cannonball or fiery, they just love to tease. Well, kids. But anyhow my ears were just too thick to listen to the calls that the annoyance faded with time. Once, I used to ask my parents, “Why did you guys named me Maryam?” and their reasons were very simple, “because your midwife was called Miriam”...”and Maryam is a name that is mentioned in the Quran”. How beautiful. I was named after the name stated in the Quran and also to reminisce the day I was borned, they named me after my midwife (perhaps they were over joyed to have a baby girl in the family). Alhamdulillah, I have a great name. Maryam is the name of the Prophet Isa’s mother. She was chosen by Allah to carry Isa in her womb without a husband or even getting married. This is an...

Salam and Hi, As I've been working for 6 days in a week since I got back from my Umrah, updating the blog was certainly not on the top of my 'to do' list. Sorry. However, the need to share my Umrah stories was always in my heart as I believe they have brought some impacts on my daily routines and... I really want YOU to be part of it too, so that all of us could learn and be a better person . What else that we are to do than to serve Allah. As the Quran mentioned: " dan aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka mengabdikan diri kepada-Ku/ I created jinn and the humankind only that they might worship Me" (Az-Zariyat: 56) Here is link to a blog which could represent me briefly about the journey that my family and I had during the two weeks holidays. Its from one of Abah's blogs (zainudinhajimeon.blogspot.com-umrah yang penuh bermakna) =) Masjidil Haram: Situation right after performing one of the daily prayers. Picture was taken from the sec...

Salam. As I recite Al-Baqarah today, there was a verse which seems very familiar. Indeed!! I know the verse and I've recite it for many times during my Umrah. "Indeed the Safa and the Marwah are among the marks from Allah. So whoever comes to the House for Hajj or performs the 'Umrah, there is no sin for him if he makes rounds between them; whoever comes up on his own with good, so Allah is Appreciating, All-Knowing." (2:158) MashaAllah. I thought it was a doa from the Prophet, no. Its actually words from Allah, written in the Quran. Let's read further on the meaning of this ayah. I've taken the explanation below from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (online). The Meaning of "it is not a sin'' in the Ayah Imam Ahmad reported that `Urwah said that he asked `A'ishah about what Allah stated: [إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا] (Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah (tw...

Alhamdulillah. June passed just the way I expected it to be- busy and worth it! I would label it as my month of spiritual journey, though I've always try to make each of my day a journey for self-improvement. The two weeks of school break was fully spent with my parents in Mecca where we performed our Umrah from 1st June till 13th. Many have asked the same question again and again as I reached Malaysia, "How was Umrah?" and my answer would and will always be the same (for the time being), "Alhamdulillah, everything went well". That's all? Am I not willing to share any of the stories??? I would say..."I'm speechless to describe any of the journey. Everything that I went through was a lesson and things for me to ponder deeply..." InshaAllah, when the right time comes I will share with you bit by bit.