All About You, Me and Everything: April 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Gala Galore

Photos are captured during my vacation on April and May 2010.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

My Journey to Muslim Sacred Places

Al Haram, Makkah

It is an honor to every Muslim to visit Sacred Places like Makkah and Madinah Al Munawarah. I am very thankful that I was given an opportunity to visit such places. It was a dream came true for me considering that since my childhood I am dreaming to reach those places. Before, I have just seen it in the photos and it was totally amazed me. Perhaps, it is my inclination also to take photos.

My first visit was in Al Haram, Makkah to perform Umra. Umra is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year. It is not compulsory but voluntary for those physically and financially capable. Some rituals will be performed in Umra. First and foremost, one must be totally cleaned hygienically. And should perform abdus(ablution), washing some parts of the body as prescribed. Wearing Ikram(white cloth) is much more exciting, I feel so comfortable whenever I wore that. It was so excited for me since that was my first time.

When I arrived in Makkah Al Haram, I was amazed of different people I saw. There were black, white, brown, tall etc. Perhaps, they perform umra also and they are from different part of the world.

Inside Al Haram, you can see the Ka’ba. Ka’ba was constructed by Abraham and his son Ishmael, after Ishmael had settled in Arabia. Ka’ba is surrounded by a building called Masjid Al Haram. Ka’ba is also the the Qibla(direction) that all Muslims must face during prayers wherever they are in part of the world.

In performing Umra, Tawaf or circumambulating Ka’ba seven times is required. Offering two sunnah raka’a prayer behind the station of Abraham is being performed. After that, pilgrim must proceed to Al Marwa and Al Safa( Al Safa and Al Marwa, are two small mountains) to perform Saee, traveling back and forth seven times in the two mountains as part of the ritual.

Since that was my first time to perform, I should bald my hair completely. It is required for first timer since it symbolizes that one is like a new born baby.

Madinah Al Munawarah

There are a lot of Muslim holy places also located in Madinah Al Munawarah. Mosque of Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) is located in Madina which visited by pilgrims also. The Mosque is also called Al Haram. Inside the mosque is also the grieve of the Prophet Mohammed(PBUH).

The feeling is so different when you are in the place So sacred and peaceful. Something that is you can not explain. To be totally honest, when I was inside the mosque I feel so much comfortable like I am free from everything. Like your mind and heart are purified from all aches and tears. I can’t imagine but to come up and ask my mind “is this extension of the heaven?”

Aside from Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, there are also a lot of sacred places that are visited by Muslims all over the world. Like the Masjid ul Quba, the Seven Mosques, Masjid ul Kiblitin, the Grave Yard, the Mount Uhod, etc. All places are full of history as far as Islamic and Muslims is concerned.

Hajj

The most exciting for me is the Hajj. It is being participated by million of billions people in the world. Hajj is also being performed once in a year, unlike of the Umra that anytime in a year. It is an obligatory for those physically and financially capable to complete the five pillars of Islam.

Visiting sacred places and performing some rituals is being required in Hajj.

I was totally amazed when I was there. People are walking boundless like the flow of flooding river. They are uniformed. Men are on white cloth. Women are wrapped by white or black cloth. In there, you can observe the equality…no matter what your position is and wherever you came from in the world.

Alhamdulillah… I was given an opportunity to visit those places and so much appreciate my religion. All Praise is to Allah…

Friday, April 15, 2011

Why, Why and Why?

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."Thoreaou

Sometimes I am asking myself why we are fall in love in the person who is supposed to be not. It’s annoying right? Why they are? There’s a lot out there. Why? Why you?!

We have no control in love; also it is not a choice but by chance. We can not dictate our heart. If we can, then I’m sure we will not going to love the person that will hurt us.

Sometimes the time is playful. We have love but still we will fall in love in others, but in the end we need to decide, for who is who? The one who will do everything for you ? Or the one that your heart shout of?

Why we can’t prevent these? Is this because he/she has shortcomings? Or discontentment? It is palatable to love with contentment than complete but without trust.

Did you fall in love simultaneously? Did you experience to decide to whom of them? Who is in or out? What if you decide in the wrong one? Would you want to get back the other one? Or continue and force yourself to love the one that you choose.

Sometimes we will realize our mistakes when we are already hurt. What is mistake that hard to accept? To love the one who hurts you? Or, you hurt the one that fall in love with you so much?

Being hurt in love is normal since we are just human being, you hurt and I hurt. If you love someone then you will do everything. Even it is right or wrong. But why…because you love then that is why you need to hurt also?

It is hard to accept the reality that you fall in love with the wrong one, who is not worth it. But how could you for get or move on when in fact when the days and night goes on and on he/she still in your mind? And the feeling of bereavement is still there and became worse and worst.

They said too much love will kill you. And so as also if it is too less. What is required is adequate… no more no less. But how to love in correct way? If you know what is supposed to be right is not enough?

Some says, you can’t measure the love in one person until you did not experience to have a share? Sharing is loving?I don’t think so…

If time will come that you discovered that your loved one is fall in love with other one, let him/her go…why? Because if he/she still loves you then why need to look for other one? Love is knowing. You should know when to fight and when to give up.

In love it is not all the time you will use your heart. Not only the self interest and happiness. You should use your mind sometimes. But you should also consider the interest of others.

Sometimes you need to give up. There are things that you can not force even you like it most. You need sometimes to control yourself to decide so that you will not wake up someday in the wrong path.

It is hard and hurting to accept but we need to move on. Maybe he/she is not the right one. Who knows? Someday somehow you will find the right one who loves you most and you love most.